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
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.
The comedian, actress and writer has a longtime following for her smart, absurdist comedy; her love of crafts and bright colors; and her empathetic and curious writing. Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 16 Oct. 2025 From Oakland Symphony’s new season to a pair of Chicago comedians and a salty exhibit, there is a lot to see and do in the Bay Area this weekend. Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025 The comedian will perform a comedy show at Lincoln Center Theater's Claire Tow Theater in New York City in November. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Oct. 2025 The show on October 23, which is already sold-out, is being billed as the first-ever Arabic-language performance by an Arab comedian at the historic live entertainment venue, which has previously hosted Chris Rock, Gad Elmaleh and Eddie Izzard. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 15 Oct. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Comedian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comedian. Accessed 21 Oct. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!