gagman: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialized / Professional / Historical
Quick answer
What does “gagman” mean?
A person whose profession is to write or invent jokes, gags, or comedic material.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person whose profession is to write or invent jokes, gags, or comedic material.
Specifically, a comedy writer for stage, film, television, or a performer's act. In older usage, it could refer to a comedian who delivers the jokes. The term strongly evokes the world of show business, especially vaudeville, comedy writers' rooms, or stand-up.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties but is more established and documented in American English due to the history of US vaudeville and network TV comedy.
Connotations
In both varieties, it has a professional, slightly old-fashioned, and insider-show-business connotation.
Frequency
Extremely low in general usage. Slightly more likely to be encountered in American English texts discussing the history of comedy.
Grammar
How to Use “gagman” in a Sentence
Gagman for [performer/show]Gagman on [show/network]Gagman at [studio/theatre]Work as a gagmanVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used within the entertainment industry, e.g., 'We need to budget for two additional gagmen on the variety show.'
Academic
Found in historical or media studies discussing the evolution of comedy writing.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation. A layperson might say 'comedy writer' or 'joke writer' instead.
Technical
A specific job title or role in historical contexts of television, film, or theatre production credits.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gagman”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gagman”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gagman”
- Using it to refer to any funny person instead of a professional writer.
- Spelling as 'gag man' (though sometimes hyphenated).
- Assuming it is a common, modern term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's quite rare and old-fashioned. Modern equivalents are 'comedy writer', 'staff writer', or 'joke writer'.
Historically, the term was male-gendered. The modern, gender-neutral equivalent is 'comedy writer' or 'gag writer'.
A gagman primarily writes the jokes, while a comedian primarily performs them. Some individuals do both.
No. In 'gagman', 'gag' means a joke or comedic bit. It's a different sense of the word related to theatrical slang.
A person whose profession is to write or invent jokes, gags, or comedic material.
Gagman is usually specialized / professional / historical in register.
Gagman: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡaɡman/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡæɡˌmæn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms, but related to 'crack a gag' or 'throwaway gag'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a man (MAN) whose job is to supply GAGs (jokes) for comedians.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE JOKE IS A PRODUCT (the gagman is the factory worker producing it).
Practice
Quiz
In which historical entertainment context was the role of a 'gagman' most prominent?