punch line

noun

: the sentence, statement, or phrase (as in a joke) that makes the point

Examples of punch line in a Sentence

She didn't understand the punch line.

Recent Examples on the Web

The situation sparked a free speech debate and had Sheeran on the receiving end of punch lines and criticism. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026

To spoil more of the joke’s punch lines would be criminal, but rest assured her son eventually confronts her about it. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026

The Panthers went from weakling to bully, while the Falcons transformed from laughingstock to punch line. — Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Brady has become a punch line, and the jokes always seem to circle back to his split with Bündchen. — Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for punch line

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bloodline
• bovine
• brucine
• byline