knock-knock joke

noun

plural knock-knock jokes

: a formulaic joke that begins with the words "Knock knock" in imitation of someone knocking on a door

Note: The standard pattern of a knock-knock joke calls for a response of "Who's there?", a cryptic reply identifying the knocker, a further response repeating the name of the knocker followed by "who?", and a final joking reply typically featuring a pun or play on words.

William Cole … is a perpetrator of, and authority on, the knock-knock joke. "Knock-knock jokes are basically puns, that's all, and you've got to have a feel for the ludicrous," he says. … He considers the following to be his best creation: "Knock knock." Who's there? "Amaryllis." Amaryllis who? "Amaryllis state agent. Wanna buy a house?"

—Glenn Collins

Big Bird to audience: "You're having fun, right? Okay, let's do a knock-knock joke. Knock knock." Audience: "Who's there?" BB: "Ya." Audience: "Ya who?" BB: "See, I told you you were having fun." Groan if you like, but it's a hoot to a 4-year-old.

—Steve Parks

Examples of knock-knock joke in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There was one day that didn’t make it into the film where Mary, the onboard computer, had taught Rocky knock-knock jokes. —Emma Forgione, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026

One sign in the Ball Arena lower bowl taunted him with a lousy knock-knock joke. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026

Izaak, 11, loves to laugh, especially at knock-knock jokes and funny cat videos. —The Star, Kansas City Star, 16 Aug. 2025

Charges for clever wordplay and knock-knock jokes more than tripled. —Air Mail, 24 May 2025

That isn’t to say that Jost is handing over knock-knock jokes. —Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2025

Valentine's Day Knock-Knock Jokes for Kids Most kids love a good knock-knock joke. —Fiona Tapp, Parents, 30 Jan. 2025

And what better way to greet your relatives than sharing a punny one-liner or knock-knock joke? —Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 18 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for knock-knock joke

• artichoke
• nanticoke
• womenfolk
• awoke
• baroque
• bespoke
• colloque
• convoke
• evoke
• invoke
• keystroke
• kinfolk

Kids Definition

knock-knock joke

noun

ˈnäk-ˈnäk-

: a punning joke beginning with the lines "Knock, knock." "Who's there?"