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

It is, so far, clown town rather than competence town.

From Slate

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

What is one down-ballot item you are voting on that you think is particularly important: In New York City, Eric Adams, our criminally indicted cartoon-villain clown show of a mayor, has several ballot initiatives proposed that would expand his power as part of an attempt to revise the city’s charter.

From Slate

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

Related Words

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