comedian
B1Neutral to informal
Definition
Meaning
A person whose profession is to entertain an audience by telling jokes and performing humorous acts.
A person who behaves in a humorous or amusing way in everyday life; someone who lightens the mood.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to a professional performer. Can be used figuratively for someone who is habitually funny. The feminine form 'comedienne' exists but is less common in modern usage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. 'Stand-up comedian' is the standard term in both, but 'comic' is also common, especially in the US.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term is neutral. In the US, it may be more strongly associated with the stand-up comedy scene.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
comedian + performs at + venuecomedian + tells + jokescomedian known for + style/topicVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “play the comedian”
- “a bit of a comedian”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in entertainment industry contexts (e.g., 'We booked a comedian for the corporate event').
Academic
Rare. Could appear in cultural or media studies discussing performance.
Everyday
Common. Used to discuss entertainment, TV, or describe someone's personality.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My uncle is very funny, like a comedian.
- We saw a comedian on television.
- The comedian told jokes about everyday life.
- She wants to be a professional comedian.
- The stand-up comedian's observational humour resonated with the audience.
- Despite his serious job, he's a bit of a comedian in the office.
- The satirical comedian deftly critiqued political hypocrisy without alienating the crowd.
- His career trajectory from open-mic nights to headlining comedian is a testament to his perseverance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A COMEDIAN comes out to make you laugh during a COMEDY show.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A STAGE; A funny person is a performer on that stage.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from 'комик' as the only option; 'comedian' is the primary, more general term.
- Do not confuse with 'comedy actor' (актёр комедийного жанра). A comedian typically writes/performs their own material.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'commedian'.
- Using 'comedian' to refer to any actor in a comedy film (use 'comedy actor').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'comedian' in the context of a professional performer?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Comedian' is the standard, more formal term. 'Comic' is a common synonym, often used in phrases like 'stand-up comic' and can feel slightly more informal or industry-specific.
It is recognised but has declined in use. 'Comedian' is now generally used for all genders, similar to 'actor'.
Yes, but this is a figurative or informal use (e.g., 'He's the office comedian'). It suggests they habitually make people laugh, not that it's their profession.
While telling jokes is central, timing, delivery, audience rapport, and often writing original material are crucial skills for a professional comedian.
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