clown

play

noun \ ˈklau̇n \

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

Lewis played Helmut Doork, a clown who entertained children on their way to the gas chambers in a Nazi death camp.

— lawrence toppman, charlotteobserver, "Comic actor, tireless telethon host and needy performer Jerry Lewis dies at 91," 20 Aug. 2017
The Latest 'AHS: Cult' Trailer Is a Terrifying Horror Montage Featuring clowns, rats, and bloody teeth. FX American Horror Story: Cult premieres in just over two weeks, and as the new series approaches, the promo clips keep on getting creepier.

— amy mackelden, Marie Claire, "The Latest 'AHS: Cult' Trailer Is a Terrifying Horror Montage," 19 Aug. 2017
Images include insects, blood, submerged cult members and ceremonial rituals — and a lot of clowns.

— jackie strause, The Hollywood Reporter, "'American Horror Story': Deciphering All the 'Cult' Clues," 18 Aug. 2017
There is a long tradition of clowns as entertainers in Jewish culture.

— randall p. lieberman, Jewish Journal, "Group follows Jewish tradition of clowning," 11 Aug. 2017
Promotional materials have been heavy on clown imagery, bees, and children’s music.

— laura bradley, HWD, "Here’s Everything We Know So Far About American Horror Story: Cult," 10 Aug. 2017
One year, Rouse arrived at a Halloween masquerade ball at the mall dressed as a clown.

— libby solomon, Columbia Flier, "This week in Columbia history: Mall opened to anchor a community," 1 Aug. 2017
That said, the Democrats, of course, immediately began offering the most severe condemnation, which will only make a legitimate concern another partisan clown show.

— david harsanyi, National Review, "Trump Jr.’s Meeting Might Not Rise to Treason," 14 July 2017
Tragedy and comedy resound in this clown show for ages 8 and up at the Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami.

— jennifer jhon, South Florida Parenting, "Things to do with the kids this weekend: Free splash event, Cirque show," 12 July 2017

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

buffo, buffoon, harlequin, zany

Related Words

cutup, madcap; antic [archaic], fool, gracioso, jester, motley, scaramouch (or scaramouche); mime, mimic, mummer, pantaloon; comedian, comedienne, comic, droll, farceur, funnyman, gagger, gagman, gagster, humorist, joker, jokester, merry-andrew, second banana, stand-up, top banana, wag, wit

Near Antonyms

hero, heroine, idol, role model; gentleman, lady; angel, saint

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

The Monarch saw Steph Curry’s clowned-on shoes and quietly nodded from across the barbecue.

— sam schube, GQ, "See NBA Star Russell Westbrook’s Best Outfits (and Basketball Moves) from His GQ Cover Shoot," 30 Aug. 2017
Playing versions of themselves and more or less just clowning around, the pair manages to be straight-faced and tremendously silly at once.

— nina metz, chicagotribune.com, "See these Chicago-made indie TV pilots before they go to competition," 30 Aug. 2017
Denning is too busy clowning to channel the combination of wry self-knowledge and insecurity in Benedick.

— mike fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Optimist Theatre's free 'Much Ado About Nothing' leans hard on gags," 8 July 2017
But Pence and the White House communications staff weren’t the only ones who took the Rosenstein letter at face value, and thus got clowned by Trump.

— jeet heer, New Republic, "Trump Is Making a Fool of Conservative Media," 12 May 2017
What’s more, the photos are clown-themed — rainbow wigs, red noses, makeup, etc.

— abigail van buren, Twin Cities, "Dear Abby: Foolishness is not limited to a single calendar day," 1 Apr. 2017
The motorcycles revved, the lions roared, the clowns clowned, and the good circus escaped from the wrath of the bad circus, or something like that.

— atul gawande, vanityfair.com, "How Donald Trump Is Winning His Media War," 27 Feb. 2017
The motorcycles revved, the lions roared, the clowns clowned, and the good circus escaped from the wrath of the bad circus, or something like that.

— The Hive, "How Donald Trump Is Winning His Media War," 27 Feb. 2017
This season, McGee has publicly responded, letting his displeasure about Shaq’s clowning known in several interviews.

— anthony slater, The Mercury News, "Kevin Durant, Steve Kerr strongly back JaVale McGee in online feud with Shaquille O’Neal," 24 Feb. 2017

First Known Use of clown

1599

CLOWN Defined for English Language Learners

clown

play

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