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humorist

humorist

12 5.0
A person who makes people laugh by telling funny stories or jokes
  • noun
  • /ˈhjuːmərɪst/
  • US
translation icon : humorista
  • The humorist made the audience laugh with his clever jokes and witty observations.
  • gifted humorists
  • child humorists
  • male humorists

I don't see her as a humorist, although she understands what's funny.

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Examples

  • I don't see her as a humorist, although she understands what's funny.

  • Tall tales are often considered the hallmark of the great humorists in fiction.

    Academic text (1994)
  • As the humorist Dave Barry likes to say, I am not making this up.

    Academic text (2006)
  • From now on, I'm a retired humorist.

  • Only two of the 13 identified gifted child humorists were girls.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Canada has a lot of stars, comedians, humorists, and artists because we have given them access.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Marietta Holley's successful career as a humorist led to the rumor that she was actually a man.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Bill Mellberg enjoys an unusual dual career as an aerospace writer and political humorist.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Sid Perelman, a humorist and writer for the 'New Yorker', did go up to see him in New Hampshire.

  • Paul Dennithorne Johnston, reluctant humorist, serves as Executive Director of ISGS.

    Fiction book (2000)

Synonyms

clown
vshumorist
372 1.0

A performer who wears bright clothes and makes people laugh

uses verbal, written, or varied comedic techniques beyond physical silliness
card
vshumorist
  • Archaic
344 7.7

A funny person who behaves in a strange and entertaining way

is generally a professional or practiced creator of amusing material
wit
vshumorist
53 4.8

A person who thinks quickly and says clever, funny things

includes many methods of making people laugh beyond quick remarks
comedienne
vshumorist
  • Archaic
23 7.0

A woman who makes people laugh on stage or television

is gender neutral and not limited to acting roles
satirist
vshumorist
  • Literature
11 7.0

A person, often a writer or comedian, who uses humor and irony to criticize people and ideas

focuses on entertaining above using humor mainly for social criticism
jokester
vshumorist
7 4.4

A person who often makes other people laugh

covers more polished or professional entertaining beyond casual joking
funnyman
vshumorist
5 3.7

A man who makes people laugh by telling jokes or acting in a silly way

is broader, covering writing and speaking as well as live performance
gasser
vshumorist
  • Archaic
1 8.6

A very funny person or thing that makes people laugh

can be more formal and varied in how amusement is created
funster
vshumorist
  • Informal
1 8.9

A person who makes others laugh in a group

is not limited to group situations and spans many formats
wisecracker
vshumorist
  • Informal
1 7.1

A person who often makes short funny or sarcastic remarks

can be more varied in tone and not always sarcastic
quipster
vshumorist
7.9

A person who often makes short clever remarks

uses wider comedic forms, not only brief witty comments
ultimate lulzer
vshumorist
  • Slang
9.9

A person who makes people laugh online by telling funny stories

applies to any context, not only online storytelling
ridiculer
vshumorist
8.4

A person who makes fun of others using sarcasm to make people laugh

aims mainly to entertain without necessarily targeting or mocking others
lampooner
vshumorist
8.4

A person who makes fun of others by copying their words or music in a funny way

is broader, not always focused on imitation or pointed mockery

How Funny

comedian
267 1.7
humorist
  • US
12 5.0
wit
53 4.8

Surface Forms

humorist singular
humorists plural
humourists plural
humourist singular

Morphology

humorist = humor (transparent) = humor + ist

Clearly formed from 'humor' + the agentive suffix '-ist', meaning a person who produces or performs humor.

Etymology

The word humorist comes from humor, a word that long ago meant a body's 'liquid' and then meant 'mood' because people thought these liquids changed how you felt. That's why 'humorous' came to mean 'funny', and a humorist is someone who makes people laugh.