comedian

noun

co·​me·​di·​an kə-ˈmē-dē-ən 

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

Synonyms of comedian

• comic
• entertainer
• joker
• humorist
• wit
• funnyman
• clown

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

Judging by the album’s plethora of zingers, Barnett could have been a stand-up comedian. —The Week Us, TheWeek, 15 Apr. 2026

Dave Chappelle is one of the most influential stand-up comedians in the world. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 15 Apr. 2026

Batson will co-star with the comedian and make his feature-film debut in The Breadwinner, a new comedy set for release on May 29. —Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026

The superstar comedian’s Netflix standup comedy specials The Closer (2021) and The Dreamer (2023) included transgender jokes around themes of cancel culture leading to backlash from members of the LGBTQ community and GLAAD, among others. —Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for comedian

• submedian
• paramedian

Kids Definition

comedian

noun

co·​me·​di·​an kə-ˈmēd-ē-ən 

1

: an actor who plays in comedy

2

: a comical individual

especially : a humorous professional entertainer