comedian

noun

co·​me·​di·​an kə-ˈmē-dē-ən How to pronounce comedian (audio)
1
archaic
a
: a writer of comedies
b
: an actor who plays comic roles
2
: a comical individual
specifically : a professional entertainer who uses any of various physical or verbal means to be amusing

Examples of comedian in a Sentence

You'll like my friend. He's a real comedian. struggled to eke out a living as a comedian in nightclubs
Recent Examples on the Web
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Louis-Dreyfus and her mother went to family therapy as adults When the comedian was 60 and Judith was 87, the two went to therapy together. Julie Tremaine, People.com, 1 May 2025 The comedian spoke out while hosting a gala in tribute to Duke Ellington at New York's Jazz at the Lincoln Center on April 30 and got a laugh from Alec Baldwin and Joy Reid, who were in the audience. Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025 In a promotional video shot at a hockey rink with Mike Myers, Carney goes back and forth with the comedian to confirm his Canadian roots. Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 The comedian became the first blind winner of BBC entertainment juggernaut Strictly last year, three years after Rose-Ayling Ellis – who is currently starring in two mainstream network TV dramas – was the first deaf contestant to take home the Strictly trophy. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for comedian

Word History

First Known Use

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of comedian was in 1580

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Cite this Entry

“Comedian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comedian. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

comedian

noun
co·​me·​di·​an kə-ˈmēd-ē-ən How to pronounce comedian (audio)
1
: an actor who plays in comedy
2
: a comical individual
especially : a humorous professional entertainer

More from Merriam-Webster on comedian

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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