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Definition of humor
1a : a normal functioning bodily semifluid or fluid (such as the blood or lymph)b physiology : a secretion (such as a hormone) that is an excitant of activity
2a in medieval physiology : a fluid or juice of an animal or plant; specifically : one of the four fluids entering into the constitution of the body and determining by their relative proportions a person's health and temperamentb : characteristic or habitual disposition or bent : temperament of cheerful humorc : an often temporary state of mind imposed especially by circumstances was in no humor to listend : a sudden, unpredictable, or unreasoning inclination : whim … conceived the humor of impeaching casual passers-by … and wreaking vengeance on them. — Charles Dickens the uncertain humors of nature
3a : that quality which appeals to a sense of the ludicrous or absurdly incongruous : a funny or amusing quality Try to appreciate the humor of the situation.b : the mental faculty of discovering, expressing, or appreciating the ludicrous or absurdly incongruous : the ability to be funny or to be amused by things that are funny a guy with a great sense of humorc : something that is or is designed to be comical or amusing The book is a collection of American humor. not a fan of the comedian's brand of humor
out of humor
: out of sorts
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Examples of humor in a Sentence
He didn't appreciate the humor of the situation.
Someday, you'll see the humor in this.
Everyone likes the gentle humor of his stories of family life.
She doesn't care for ethnic humor.
The book is a collection of American humor.
His humor is one of his most attractive qualities.
Recent Examples of humor from the Web
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Laugh a little The New Yorker is returning to its roots with more humor—comic essays and cartoons.
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She's parlayed her section of the internet into a bona fide community, using humor, charm, and her own vulnerability as currency.
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His humor focuses largely on his five-child family and fat references (to himself).
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As Emily’s mom, Hunter taps into rage, grief and humor in equal measure and delivers a memorable performance that practically begs for a supporting-actress Oscar nomination.
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With its decorative peace signs and pizza patches, the jacket meshed with her sense of humor and made for a lighthearted statement piece.
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Bars, bottoms and bluster make for great bulges of black humor in the novels of the prolific Congolese writer Alain Mabanckou.
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BRITISH HUMOR drew off to an easy maiden win last out in his first try over this track.
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Matt and Phil take pride in customizing their presentations to their audience to make the experience both personal and purposeful, while bringing their own unique brand of high energy, humor and meaning.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'humor'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
In the Middle Ages it was believed that a person’s health and disposition were the result of a balance of four fluids in the body. These fluids were called humors, from the Latin word humor, meaning “moisture.” The fluids were blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. If a person had a cheerful disposition, it was said to be a result of an excess of blood. A sluggish disposition was the result of an excess of phlegm. A hot-tempered disposition was said to be caused by an excess of yellow bile, and the disposition of a gloomy person was the result of an excess of black bile. In time, humor came to be used as a general term for “disposition or temperament.” From this developed the sense of “a changeable state of mind” or “mood.” More recently humor has come to refer to something that is funny.
Origin and Etymology of humor
Middle English humour, from Anglo-French umor, umour, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin humor, from Latin humor, umor moisture; akin to Old Norse vǫkr damp, Latin humēre to be moist, and perhaps to Greek hygros wet
Synonym Discussion of humor
humor
Definition of humor
humored
;humoring
play \ˈhyüm-riŋ, ˈyüm-, ˈhyü-mə-, ˈyü-\transitive verb
1 : to soothe or content (someone) by indulgence : to comply with the temperment or inclinations of The only way to get along with him is to humor him. I know you don't agree, but just humor me.
2 : to adapt oneself to yielding to, and humoring the motion of the limbs and twigs — William Bartram
Examples of humor in a Sentence
The only way to get along with him is to humor him.
humored her grandfather by listening to his war stories for the hundredth time
Recent Examples of humor from the Web
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So as to keep on humoring us, then, maybe Congress should stick around for the summer.
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Goldwyn might have been humoring Busch by agreeing to watch the newsreels in a private screening room at his studio in West Hollywood.
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During a composer’s lifetime, even from one performance to the next, an opera might undergo changes to accommodate a singer who couldn’t hit a high note, or to humor a diva who could.
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The kids were quick to see it as some sort of punishment, and my husband mostly played along to humor me.
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Everyone who knew Cornell in those early years describes him as kind and good-humored, but also somewhat distant.
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Ms. Beard is unusually good-humored about many of her adversaries.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'humor'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of humor
see 1humor
Synonym Discussion of humor
HUMOR Defined for English Language Learners
humor
playDefinition of humor for English Language Learners
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: a funny or amusing quality
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: jokes, funny stories, etc., of a particular kind
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: the ability to be funny or to be amused by things that are funny
humor
Definition of humor for English Language Learners
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: to try to please or satisfy (someone) by doing what is wanted
HUMOR Defined for Kids
Definition of humor for Students
1 : the amusing quality of something She couldn't see the humor of the situation.
2 : the ability to see or tell the amusing quality of things
3 : state of mind : mood … they were not in a very good humor because they had been arguing … — Robert McClosky, Homer Price
humorless
\-ləs\ adjectiveDefinition of humor for Students
humored
;humoring
: to give in to the wishes of I humored her and listened to her ridiculous idea.
Medical Dictionary
humor
Medical Definition of humor
1a: a normal functioning bodily semifluid or fluid (as the blood or lymph)b: a secretion (as a hormone) that is an excitant of activity
2in ancient and medieval physiology : a fluid or juice of an animal or plant; specifically : one of the four fluids that were believed to enter into the constitution of the body and to determine by their relative proportions a person's health and temperament—see black bile, blood 3, phlegm 1, yellow bile
Learn More about humor
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See words that rhyme with humor Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for humor Spanish Central: Translation of humor Nglish: Translation of humor for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of humor for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about humor
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