clown

1 of 2

noun

ˈklau̇n 

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 usually colorfully costumed comedy performer in a circus

b

: a person who habitually jokes and plays the buffoon

c

: joker sense 1b

clown

2 of 2

verb

clowned; clowning; clowns

intransitive verb

: to act as or like a clown

always clowning around

Synonyms of clown

Noun

• harlequin
• buffoon
• comedian

Verb

• horse around
• monkey (around)
• fool around
• cut up
• show off

Examples of clown in a Sentence

Noun

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

Verb

as a youngster he was always clowning around in the classroom

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Two clowns in serious legal trouble colluded to put the entire planet in an economic crisis. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026

The procession will also welcome 52 floats, 31 clown crews, nine specialty units (such as trycaloons, or balloons ridden on tricycles), seven marching bands, and five balloonicles (that’s a balloon-vehicle hybrid). — Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026

Verb

Every Saturday morning, about 190 starry-eyed students ages 10 to 18 attend classes in everything from puppetry, mime and clowning to juggling, card tricks, illusions, mentalism, stage magic, theater production and escapology. — Julie Bourdin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026

Irwin knows how to clown an audience, and in this enjoyable, broadly comic interpretation, the buffoonery is at least as much the point as some pointed critiques of modern-day American health care. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1552, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1590, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing clown

• clown fish
• play the clown
• the class clown

Rhymes for clown

• bown
• crown
• drown
• frown
• gown
• lown
• noun
• town
• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown

Kids Definition

clown

1 of 2 noun

ˈklau̇n 

1

: a rude and often stupid person

2

: a performer (as in a play or circus) who usually wears funny clothes and makeup and tries to make people laugh

clownish

ˈklau̇-nish

adjective

clownishly adverb

clownishness noun

clown

2 of 2 verb

: to act like a clown