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

• 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

So how does a local TV anchor/reporter meet a nationally-touring comedian anyway? —Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2025

This is the question that propels Netflix’s Wayward, an extraordinary new series from the comedian and Feel Good creator Mae Martin. —Judy Berman, Time, 25 Sep. 2025

Best known for his role as The Partridge Family manager, Reuben Kincaid, Dave Madden first made a splash as a comedian after performing on the Ed Sullivan Show. —Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025

Comedian and game show host Ross Shafer spoke at the ceremony along with NBA star Jaylen Brown and actor/comedian Joel McHale. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025

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