laughter
Americannoun
-
the action or sound of laughing.
-
an inner quality, mood, disposition, etc., suggestive of laughter; mirthfulness.
a man of laughter and goodwill.
-
an expression or appearance of merriment or amusement.
-
Archaic. an object of laughter; subject or matter for amusement.
noun
-
the action of or noise produced by laughing
-
the experience or manifestation of mirth, amusement, scorn, or joy
Other Word Forms
- laughterless adjective
Etymology
Origin of laughter
before 900; Middle English; Old English hleahtor; cognate with Old High German hlahtar, Old Norse hlātr; laugh
Explanation
Whether you giggle or chuckle or snort with amusement, what you're producing is laughter. Laughter is also what people hear when you laugh. Funny movies, your friends' jokes, and absurd or embarrassing situations all cause laughter, which is the word for both the action and the sound of someone laughing. Laughter can be a silent, shaking movement, or a loud guffaw. There are a few other primates besides humans who experience laughter, and most babies can shake with laughter before they're even able to speak.
Vocabulary lists containing laughter
Comedy Lingo
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Spelling Practice 2, Unit 6
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Exploitation is not inherently funny, and there’s a vast difference between a movie that earns your laughter and one that expects a certain reaction.
From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026
Videos he’s posted show them howling with laughter while dozens of fat fish jump all around them.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
The excitement at ground control was palpable, Gibbons said, adding that it was a "special" moment filled with tears, hugs and laughter.
From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026
“A writer who was devoted to bringing laughter to the world, Jessie’s life’s work will continue to entertain audiences for decades to come.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
Her beautiful green eyes that normally danced with laughter stared into mine with a cold, hard fury.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
