joker

noun

jok·​er ˈjō-kər How to pronounce joker (audio)
1
a
: a person given to joking : wag
b
: fellow, guy
especially : an insignificant, obnoxious, or incompetent person
a shame to let a joker like this win Harold Robbins
2
: a playing card added to a pack as a wild card or as the highest-ranking card
3
a(1)
: an ambiguous or apparently immaterial clause inserted in a legislative bill to make it inoperative or uncertain in some respect
(2)
: an unsuspected, misleading, or misunderstood clause, phrase, or word in a document that nullifies or greatly alters it
b
: something (such as an expedient or stratagem) held in reserve to gain an end or escape from a predicament
c
: an unsuspected or not readily apparent fact, factor, or condition that thwarts or nullifies a seeming advantage

Examples of joker in a Sentence

Jokers are wild in this game. I can't believe I let that joker beat me. Some joker hit our car.
Recent Examples on the Web There are 150 different jokers to collect, some of which are brilliantly devised. Barry Collins, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 A couple of jokers in the faraway centerfield bleachers had stripped off their shirts and were dancing in the aisles, no doubt fueled by repeat doses of Stroh’s beer and some antifreeze with a stronger kick. Bill Morris, Detroit Free Press, 28 Jan. 2024 The Mary Kay Letourneau horror story is a joke to these jokers. Armond White, National Review, 10 Jan. 2024 Vanessa Guzman described her sister as a bit of a joker, giggling, dancing around and making faces to cheer up someone who was upset. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2024 The next in line was David, a tall, blond joker who’d start his career tag-teaming with Kevin. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Dec. 2023 In games of Top Trumps, the V12 might have been king, but a rotary was a joker, a wild card. Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 13 Nov. 2023 Last week, DeVante got jumped by two old 16-year-old MAGA-hat-wearing jokers from Pearl. Oliver Munday, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2023 LaBar's a joker, a peacemaker, a fan of Jack Nicholson and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Oliver Broudy, Men's Health, 17 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'joker.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1726, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of joker was circa 1726

Dictionary Entries Near joker

Cite this Entry

“Joker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joker. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

joker

noun
jok·​er ˈjō-kər How to pronounce joker (audio)
1
: a person who jokes
2
: an extra card used in some card games
3
: a hidden or misleading part of an agreement that works to one party's disadvantage : catch
4
: human being, fellow
especially : an obnoxious or incompetent person

More from Merriam-Webster on joker

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!