in jest

phrase

formal + old-fashioned

: as a joke

I didn't mean to upset you; I only said it in jest.

Examples of in jest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Occasionally, this appeared to be in jest (although not actually very funny). — Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2026

It’s routinely thrown around online, both sincerely and in jest, to describe anything that feels inauthentic. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Of course, the word is used only in jest, as flight attendants are renowned for their unrivaled patience and innate ability to de-escalate even the most trying onboard situations. — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 23 Aug. 2026

Lucas has even floated the idea — perhaps partly in jest — that Royals owner John Sherman could help lead that effort. — Latif Love, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026

Rhymes for in jest

• abreast
• accessed
• addressed
• appressed
• armrest
• arrest
• assessed
• attest
• backrest
• behest
• bequest
• caressed