zany

[ zey-nee ]

adjective

, za·ni·er, za·ni·est.

1. ludicrously or whimsically comical; clownish.

noun

, plural za·nies.

1. one who plays the clown or fool in order to amuse others.
2. a comically wild or eccentric person.

   Synonyms: lunatic, crazy, kook

3. a secondary stock character in old comedies who mimicked his master.
4. a professional buffoon; clown.
5. a silly person; simpleton.
6. a slavish attendant or follower.

zany

/ ˈzeɪnɪ /

adjective

1. comical in an endearing way; imaginatively funny or comical, esp in behaviour

noun

1. a clown or buffoon, esp one in old comedies who imitated other performers with ludicrous effect
2. a ludicrous or foolish person

Derived Forms

• ˈzanyism, noun
• ˈzaniness, noun
• ˈzanily, adverb

Other Words From

• zani·ly adverb
• zani·ness zany·ism noun
• zany·ish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of zany¹

1560–70; (< Middle French ) < Italian zan ( n ) i (later zanno ) a servant character in the commedia dell’arte, perhaps originally the character's name, the Upper Italian form of Tuscan Gianni, for Giovanni John

Word History and Origins

Origin of zany¹

C16: from Italian zanni, from dialect (Venice and Lombardy) Zanni, nickname for Giovanni John; one of the traditional names for a clown

Example Sentences

Cahoon’s approach to the role is so full of zany affectations and mannerisms that it’s hard to feel on intimate terms with Albin.

From Los Angeles Times

“Full House” star Dave Coulier, who played the Tanner family’s zany Uncle Joey, has cancer.

From Los Angeles Times

Last weekend, Angelenos came in huge numbers, in zany outfits, on tricked out bikes, dogs everywhere, pouring into the streets as if this were the first warm day after a snowbound winter.

From Slate

"Today’s young women know that neurotic isn’t cute. Cute isn’t cute. Neither is flustered, madcap, zany, flighty, flaky, harried or hapless - all adjectives that apply to Bridget."

From BBC

It’s hard to overstate the cultural impact of Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice” in 1988 — in fact, it feels like the wild-haired “bio-exorcist” memorably embodied by Michael Keaton has simply always been around, especially for a subset of millennials who grew up with the zany horror comedy on repeat.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• campy
• comical
• eccentric
• goofy
• kooky
• loony
• madcap
• wacky