clown

[ kloun ]

noun

1. a comic performer, as in a circus, theatrical production, or the like, who wears an outlandish costume and makeup and entertains by pantomiming common situations or actions in exaggerated or ridiculous fashion, by juggling or tumbling, etc.
2. a person who acts like a clown; comedian; joker; buffoon; jester.
3. a prankster; a practical joker.

   Synonyms: churl, lout

4. Slang. a coarse, ill-bred person; a boor.

   Synonyms: bumpkin

5. a peasant; rustic.

verb (used without object)

1. to act like a clown.

clown

/ klaʊn /

noun

1. a comic entertainer, usually grotesquely costumed and made up, appearing in the circus
2. any performer who elicits an amused response
3. someone who plays jokes or tricks
4. a person who acts in a comic or buffoon-like manner
5. a coarse clumsy rude person; boor
6. archaic.
   a countryman or rustic

verb

1. to perform as a clown
2. to play jokes or tricks
3. to act foolishly

Derived Forms

• ˈclownery, noun
• ˈclownishness, noun
• ˈclownishly, adverb
• ˈclownish, adjective

Other Words From

• clownish adjective
• clownish·ly adverb
• clownish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of clown¹

1555–65; earlier cloyne, clowne, perhaps akin to Old Norse klunni boor, Danish dialect klunds, Swedish dialect klunn log

Word History and Origins

Origin of clown¹

C16: perhaps of Low German origin; compare Frisian klönne, Icelandic klunni clumsy fellow

Example Sentences

Instead, they are running to reporters, professing shock and outrage at the cast of dangerous clowns he is tapping to serve in his cabinet.

From Salon

Just take a look at the clown car full of minions and allies that the president-elect has assembled for his top spots.

From Los Angeles Times

To Stewart, Hinchcliffe isn’t worth taking seriously because he’s a clown, like Stewart’s own longstanding argument that he’s an entertainer – one to whom viewers turn to make sense of headlines — not a journalist.

From Salon

A clown car full of grifters and kooks, meanwhile, used the primaries as an opportunity to suck up to Trump, whom everyone knew would inevitably be the nominee.

From Salon

The son of the victim, Joseph Ahrens, told authorities the doorbell rang at their family home and his mother answered the door to a person dressed as a clown.

From BBC

Related Words

• buffoon
• comedian
• comic
• fool
• jester
• mime
• prankster