clown

noun \ ˈklau̇n \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of clown

1 : farmer, countryman

2 : a rude ill-bred person : boor

3 a : a fool, jester, or comedian in an entertainment (such as a play); specifically : a grotesquely dressed comedy performer in a circus

b : a person who habitually jokes and plays the buffoon

c : joker 1b

See clown defined for English-language learners

See clown defined for kids

Examples of clown in a Sentence

Those big shoes make you look like a clown!
Who's the clown standing in the middle of the road?
those clowns at the state capital

Recent Examples of clown from the Web

Among the clowns and contortionists will be Nik Wallenda and the Fabulous Wallendas, whose famous seven-person pyramid on the high wire has been a show-stopper on the Big Apple tour.

— robert steiner, BostonGlobe.com, "Nik Wallenda walks the line with Big Apple Circus," 3 Apr. 2018
As ultranationalist clown and perennial presidential candidate Vladimir Zhirinovsky explained in the Duma, by banning The Death of Stalin the government was only ensuring that everyone would download and watch it—even him.

— sophie pinkham, The New Republic, "The Provocative Brilliance of The Death of Stalin," 29 Mar. 2018
LaBeouf spent most of his youth pinballing back and forth between the set of the Disney show that gave him his big break and the various 12 step programs of his father, a former professional clown and recovering heroin addict.

— emma stefansky, HWD, "Shia LaBeouf’s Hollywood Comeback Begins with a Movie About Shia Labeouf," 17 Mar. 2018
The Patriots, who have made a culture out of being dull, a culture created and zealously policed by Bill Belichick, don’t really need a class clown in their castle.

— bob ford, Philly.com, "When they need a laugh, Eagles pick a Lane | Bob Ford," 30 Jan. 2018
Death, a character portrayed by Vanessa Elise, appears as an aggressive chonga clown and ringmaster.

— christine dolen, miamiherald, "A Zoetic Stage world premiere ‘an old-school circus’ with smoke, mirrors, clowns | Miami Herald," 16 Jan. 2018
Despite all the murder, gore, screaming, and homicidal, publicly masturbating clowns of Cult, that line is what should truly strike fear into the hearts of viewers.

— refinery29.com, "American Horror Story," 21 Mar. 2018
The family friendly event will feature leprechauns, clowns and face painting from 2-5 p.m.

— georgann yara, azcentral, "Lucky eats: 24 places for St. Patrick’s Day food and drink deals," 12 Mar. 2018
Those choices led David, who died in 2005, to an unusual dual career as a lawyer and an entertainer who worked as a magician, clown, juggler, comedian, mime, actor and director.

— rick romell, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Irvin B. Charne helped desegregate Milwaukee schools, won equal pay for female brewery workers," 17 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clown.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of clown

probably of Low German origin; akin to Frisian klönne clumsy fellow, Old English clyne lump of metal

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1563

See Words from the same year

clown Synonyms

Synonyms

beast, boor, cad, churl, creep, cur, dog, heel, jerk, joker, louse, lout, pill, rat, reptile, scum, skunk, slob, snake, stinker, swine, varmint, vermin;

Near Antonyms

hero, heroine, idol, role model;

gentleman, lady;

angel, saint;

loudmouth, vulgarian;

lowlife, miscreant, rascal, rogue, roughneck, scab, scamp, scoundrel, villain, wretch;

booby, fool, nincompoop, ninny, nitwit, nut;

airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, dolt, dope, dork [slang], goon, half-wit, idiot, imbecile, moron, turkey;

Phrases

son of a gun;

clown

verb

Definition of clown

intransitive verb

: to act as or like a clown

always clowning around

See clown defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of clown from the Web

Digital assistants egg on every other appliance in the house to clown around.

— joe queenan, WSJ, "My Electronic Devices Are Laughing at Me," 22 Mar. 2018
When Malenkov asks whatever became of a former colleague, a pall draws over the room, until Beria and Khrushchev begin clowning around to distract Stalin from his potentially lethal rage.

— christopher orr, The Atlantic, "The Death of Stalin Is a Wicked Farce," 16 Mar. 2018
But Groucho was also an accomplished crowd-worker, and this was the bulk of the show, as Ferrante-as-Groucho clowned with audience members.

— john timpane, Philly.com, "Frank Ferrante in 'Groucho': A loving look at a comic hero (and crowd-worker)," 19 Feb. 2018
Neither should the fact that the White House already has clowned Cotton on this clumsy lie with an even clumsier explanation.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "Tom Cotton and President* Trump Deserve Each Other," 16 Jan. 2018
Elsewhere at the 69th (nice) Emmys, The Handmaid's Tale and Hulu clowned all over Netlflix's 5-year quest for a Best Drama Series Emmy, and Donald Glover cleaned the hell up.

— tom philip, GQ, "Dave Chappelle Was in Peak DGAF Form at the Emmys," 18 Sep. 2017
Mike Ditka clowned around in New Orleans, going 15-33 with the Saints before taking his mustache to ESPN.

— david haugh, chicagotribune.com, "Pride all that's left for John Fox, but is this the end of his career?," 9 Dec. 2017
Jennifer Lawrence just clowned you all on day one, nerds.

— tom philip, GQ, "Jennifer Lawrence Guest-Hosted for Jimmy Kimmel and She Out-Kimmeled Kimmel," 3 Nov. 2017
Marcus is bubbly, outgoing, full of energy, huge smile on his face, dancing, laughing, clowning other guys and me.

— joe juliano, Philly.com, "What Penn State coach James Franklin had to say …," 24 Oct. 2017

First Known Use of clown

1599

CLOWN Defined for English Language Learners

clown

noun

Definition of clown for English Language Learners

: someone who performs in a circus, who wears funny clothes and makeup, and who tries to make people laugh
: someone who often does funny things to make people laugh
: a rude or stupid person