jest

fun, jest, sport, game, play mean action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter. fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

• • played cards just for fun

jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

• • hurt by remarks said only in jest

sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

• • teasing begun in sport led to anger

game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

• • made game of their poor relations

play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

• • pretended to strangle his brother in play