jester

[ jes-ter ]

noun

1. a person who is given to witticisms, jokes, and pranks.
2. a professional fool or clown, especially at a medieval court.

jester

/ ˈdʒɛstə /

noun

1. a professional clown employed by a king or nobleman, esp at courts during the Middle Ages

Word History and Origins

Origin of jester¹

First recorded in 1325–75, jester is from the Middle English word gester. See gest, -er ¹

Example Sentences

Minhaj, 39, became the center of a quasi-controversy over truth in comedy when the New Yorker published an article last year accusing him of fabricating personal events in his two Netflix stand-up specials, 2022’s “The King’s Jester” and 2017’s “Homecoming King.”

From Los Angeles Times

The singer sported a Union Jack jester's hat for the traditional performance of Rule, Britannia! and blew kisses to the audience while singing Ruperto Chapí's tongue-twisting comic operetta Las Hijas Del Zebedeo.

From BBC

“And I’m the court jester,” customer Scott Richardson chimed in.

From Los Angeles Times

The Democrats argue that this election is about saving democracy and the Harris/Walz ticket respects the Constitution while the convicted felon Trump/eyeliner ticket, sorry JD “Shapeshifter” Vance ticket, is the authoritarian ticket; a wannabe King with his untalented court jester by his side.

From Salon

“I do consider myself a clown and a court jester, and I do love to make people laugh, whether they’re laughing with me or at me,” he told Men’s Health in 2012.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clown
• jokester