deadpan

1 of 4

adjective

dead·​pan ˈded-ˌpan 

: marked by an impassive matter-of-fact manner, style, or expression

a deadpan comedy

deadpan

2 of 4

adverb

: in a deadpan manner : without emotion : blankly

Larry David started out in the 1970s doing stand-up in comedy clubs such as Catch a Rising Star, where if he came out on stage and did not like the audience he would stare at them deadpan … and walk off.

—Lee Siegel

"A sex and violence weekend?" "That's two weekend ideas, actually," Derbin replies deadpan.

—Judith Miller

deadpan

3 of 4

noun

1

: a deadpan manner of behavior or presentation

2

: a completely expressionless face

deadpan

4 of 4

verb

deadpanned; deadpanning; deadpans

transitive verb

: to express in a deadpan manner

deadpanner noun

Synonyms

Adjective

• blank
• catatonic
• empty
• expressionless
• impassive
• inexpressive
• numb
• stolid
• vacant

Examples of deadpan in a Sentence

Adjective

he delivered the joke in such a deadpan voice that we thought at first that he was serious

Noun

He tells the joke in his best deadpan.

She's a master of deadpan.

Verb

“I went back to doing push-ups again, and this time I almost completed one,” he deadpanned.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Working with high ranking creatives and executives including Douglas Fairbanks, Joseph M. Schenck and Edward F. Cline, he became known for performing exaggerated stunts and physical comedy with a deadpan facial expression. —Selome Hailu, Variety, 19 Jan. 2023

Wet Leg, with its deadpan wit and post-punk guitar sound, loosely resembles the B-52s, if Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson had led the band. —John Seabrook, The New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1928, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1933, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1930, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

circa 1942, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

deadpan

noun

dead·​pan

ˈded-ˌpan

: a face that shows no emotion

deadpan adjective or adverb