one-liner

American  

[wuhn-lahy-ner] / ˈwʌnˈlaɪ nər /

noun

1. a brief joke or amusing remark.

---

one-liner British  

noun

1. informal a short joke or witty remark or riposte

---

Etymology

Origin of one-liner

1965–70, one line + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Longtime political humorist Mark Russell, the wise-cracking piano player who skewered Washington’s elite with pithy one-liners and upbeat tunes, has died.

From Los Angeles Times

In the 1970s, the Watergate scandal gave Mr. Russell a windfall of gags for a series of comedy albums and stand-up one-liners.

From New York Times

Fast-paced flashbacks and quippy dialogue — including some true laugh-out-loud one-liners — keep a sense of momentum that carries itself throughout the film.

From New York Times

Many of them showed up in more than 40 books and other published work that included compendiums of one-liners and magician stage banter.

From Washington Post

Then the one-liners and physical gags gush forth, along with the liquid scarlet.

From Salon

Related Words

• gag
• joke
• wisecrack
• witticism
• zinger