clown

1 of 2

noun

1
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

clown

2 of 2

verb

clowned; clowning; clowns

intransitive verb

: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Stiltwalking clown Connor Breen shook my hand and welcomed me to the team. Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025 That powerhouse voice is almost at odds with Warren’s easygoing, class clown personality. Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
Dash countered by clowning Cam for 50 being his boss, and thus continued their public back-and-forth. Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 23 Sep. 2025 Cue Pennywise's menacing laughter and our first glimpse of the killer clown behind his signature red balloon. Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for clown

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

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1599, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clown was in 1563

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clown. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

clown

1 of 2 noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on clown

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