joker

noun

jok·er | \ ˈjō-kər

Definition of joker

1a : 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

3a(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

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about joker

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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

If the 2020 Democratic primary race is starting to feel a bit like a clown car, then there’s great news: one of the latest Dems to throw his hat in is quite the joker. — Lucy Diavolo, Teen Vogue, "Teens Started Mike Gravel's Meme-Heavy 2020 Presidential Campaign," 9 Apr. 2019 In the case of McHenry, McCormack said, organizers start over with a new deck when someone draws the second joker. — Robert Mccoppin, chicagotribune.com, "Another VFW Queen of Hearts raffle tops $1 million as games grow in popularity, prizes," 22 May 2018 The Queen of Hearts game board typically consists of a deck of 52 cards plus two jokers. — Robert Mccoppin, chicagotribune.com, "Queen of Hearts raffles with big jackpots spreading to Chicago bars," 22 June 2018 Ibrahimovic has always come across as a bit of a joker. — SI.com, "6 of the Biggest Pranksters in Football," 17 June 2018 Not to be outdone, Comcast came with the big joker Wednesday and made an unsolicited offer of $65 billion in cash for Fox’s assets, CNET reports. — Monique Judge, The Root, "Disney and Comcast Set to Go Into Bidding War Over 21st Century Fox," 13 June 2018 Mark Hamill, the reigning joker of Twitter, posted a humorous tweet with a photo of Darth Vader (his onscreen father) and Father’s Day wishes. — Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, "Celebs, TV shows, and more celebrate Father's Day," 17 June 2018 Siam Nowarah said his son was a normal teenager, the joker of the family who listened to Western pop music stars like Lil Wayne and Justin Bieber. — Washington Post, BostonGlobe.com, "After a killing, an Israeli soldier and an Arab family confront justice," 16 June 2018 Because in the contemporary landscape, the liberal joker's heart is always in the right place. — Fox News, "2014 photo of detained children used as swipe against Trump," 3 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'joker.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.