one-liner
noun
one-lin·er
ˌwən-ˈlī-nər 
1
: a very succinct joke or witticism
2
: a succinct or meaningful and especially accurate statement
Examples of one-liner in a Sentence
the senator deftly inserted some smart one-liners into an otherwise sober speech
Recent Examples on the Web
Diego Luna is a one-man show, and his on- and off-field style offers a boost, as do Mastroeni’s press conference one-liners.
—
Tom Bogert, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Readers don’t fall in love with witty one-liners or mic-drop monologues.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 9 Feb. 2026
However, to see a Black man speak out unapologetically — Foxx's tendency to freestyle and deliver iconic one-liners brought levity to the proceedings — is part of what made Sanford and Son a hit.
—Starr Rocque, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
As wayward posh actress Moira Rose, O’Hara’s one-liners were meme gold and earned her critical praise.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for one-liner
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Tom Bogert, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Readers don’t fall in love with witty one-liners or mic-drop monologues.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 9 Feb. 2026
However, to see a Black man speak out unapologetically — Foxx's tendency to freestyle and deliver iconic one-liners brought levity to the proceedings — is part of what made Sanford and Son a hit.
—Starr Rocque, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
As wayward posh actress Moira Rose, O’Hara’s one-liners were meme gold and earned her critical praise.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for one-liner
Cite this Entry
“One-liner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one-liner. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
