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

Production is underway in Cape Town, South Africa, on action-comedy Boyz Trip, starring Emmy winner Rome Flynn (How To Get Away With Murder), Algee Smith (Euphoria), comedian and actor Desi Banks (Little), and South African actor Siv Ngesi (The Woman King). —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026

On the set of Saturday Night Live ahead of the pop star’s upcoming hosting and performing stint, the comedian got a little too comfortable impersonating that week’s guest in a promo video posted Wednesday (March 11). —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 11 Mar. 2026

The comedian has signed on to host the Golden Globes for a third time in 2027, having earned high marks for her previous two stints as the kudocast’s emcee. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 11 Mar. 2026

The comedian continued his hosting duties in January 2025 with the third season of the show, and now once again in January 2026 for the fourth season. —Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 11 Mar. 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