clownery: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, pejorative
Quick answer
What does “clownery” mean?
Foolish or absurd behaviour.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Foolish or absurd behaviour; the antics or actions of a clown.
Deliberate, exaggerated, and often inappropriate buffoonery or theatricality, typically intended to amuse but often perceived as unprofessional or ridiculous.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both variants use the term identically.
Connotations
In both dialects, it implies a lack of dignity, professionalism, or seriousness. It is more common in figurative criticism than in literal descriptions of circus acts.
Frequency
Low-frequency word in both dialects, used more in written critique (e.g., journalism, commentary) than in everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “clownery” in a Sentence
The [noun phrase] was pure clownery.His behaviour descended into clownery.They accused the administration of [adjective] clownery.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clownery” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The panel show host clowneries about, undermining the serious topic.
- He's just clownerying around instead of working.
American English
- The commentator accused the politician of clownerying during the debate.
- Stop clownerying and get to the point.
adverb
British English
- He behaved clownerily throughout the ceremony.
- The proposal was clownerily presented.
American English
- They acted clownerily in front of the guests.
- The decision was clownerily implemented.
adjective
British English
- His clownery antics were not appreciated.
- It was a clownery performance from start to finish.
American English
- The whole situation had a clownery feel to it.
- She gave him a clownery look.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used critically to describe unprofessional conduct in meetings or corporate strategy, e.g., 'The boardroom debate was pure clownery.'
Academic
Rare; may appear in critical cultural or political analysis to denote frivolous or unserious discourse.
Everyday
Used to express frustration with someone's silly or obstructive behaviour, e.g., 'Stop the clownery and help me.'
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “clownery”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “clownery”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clownery”
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a clownery'). It is uncountable.
- Confusing it with 'clowning', which can be more neutral (e.g., professional clowning).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is almost exclusively negative and critical, implying foolishness and a lack of seriousness.
Rarely. It primarily refers to absurd, foolish behaviour in non-performance contexts. For the profession, terms like 'clowning' or 'clown performance' are used.
They are very close synonyms. 'Clownery' is more directly associated with the exaggerated, visual silliness of a clown, while 'buffoonery' may imply stupidity or clumsy foolishness.
No. It is an informal, somewhat literary word used for emphasis or critique, not suitable for formal technical or academic writing.
Foolish or absurd behaviour.
Clownery: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklaʊnəri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklaʊnəri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A circus of clownery”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CLOWN in a CIRCUS acting silly – CLOWNery is that kind of exaggerated, ridiculous behaviour.
Conceptual Metaphor
SERIOUS ACTIVITY IS A PERFORMANCE / ABSURDITY IS CLOWNING
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'clownery' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?