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
clowned; clowning; clowns
: to act as or like a clown
always clowning around
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
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026
The film follows a clown, consumed by a desperate need for validation, who accepts a private booking, expecting a children’s party — only to discover his audience is a group of millennials and Gen Z adults who openly mock his performance.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Phoenix dons makeup and transforms, taking a disturbed disaster of a stand-up comedian down the dark and dangerous path to being a killer clown.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clown
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Noun
One can already picture her van packed to the brim with trampolines, inflatable dolphins, pig masks, Pierrot-esque clown costumes, and one of those rainbow parachutes from elementary school gym class.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026
The film follows a clown, consumed by a desperate need for validation, who accepts a private booking, expecting a children’s party — only to discover his audience is a group of millennials and Gen Z adults who openly mock his performance.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
People used to clown Compton ’cause the high school mascot is Tarbabes.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Phoenix dons makeup and transforms, taking a disturbed disaster of a stand-up comedian down the dark and dangerous path to being a killer clown.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clown
Cite this Entry
“Clown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clown. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clown
1 of 2 noun1
: 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
adjective
ˈklau̇-nish
clownishly
adverb
clownishness
noun
clown
2 of 2 verb
: to act like a clown
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