comedienne

[ kuh-mee-dee-en, -mey- ]

noun

1. a woman who is a comic entertainer or actress.

comedienne

/ kəˌmiːdɪˈɛn /

noun

1. a female comedian Gender-neutral formcomic

Gender Note

What's the difference between comedienne and comedian? See -enne.

Word History and Origins

Origin of comedienne¹

First recorded in 1855–60; from French comédienne; comedi(an) + -enne

Example Sentences

I did an awful lot of musical theater, mostly the comedienne route.

From Los Angeles Times

Playing a liberated lab assistant with a German accent, Garr proved she was “a splendid comedienne,” The Times’ review said.

From Los Angeles Times

By the end of fourth grade, Garr’s comic timing was so apparent that her teacher handed her a note that said, “Someday you will be a great comedienne,” she recalled in her autobiography.

From Los Angeles Times

Donald Trump is referencing comedienne Kathy Griffin who, several years ago, shared an image of herself holding his severed head.

From Salon

That Benanti is a terrific all-around comedienne won’t surprise those who have seen, say, the musical “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,” her impersonation of Melania Trump on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” or videos like the one in which she reimagined the obsessive Fosca from Stephen Sondheim’s “Passion” as a Times Square mascot.

From New York Times

Related Words

• hoot
• howl
• laugh