heckler: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, sometimes journalistic. Rarely used in formal legal or technical writing. Can be pejorative.
Quick answer
What does “heckler” mean?
A person who interrupts a performer, speaker, or public event by shouting out comments, often critical or abusive ones, typically to challenge or deride them.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who interrupts a performer, speaker, or public event by shouting out comments, often critical or abusive ones, typically to challenge or deride them.
More broadly, anyone who persistently and aggressively challenges or criticizes someone in a public or disruptive manner. Can be applied to contexts beyond live events, such as online forums or comment sections.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The verb 'heckle' may be slightly more common in UK descriptions of political rallies or comedy shows.
Connotations
Equally negative in both varieties. Associated with comedy clubs, political speeches, and town hall meetings.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “heckler” in a Sentence
The [speaker/performer] [verb] the/with a heckler.A heckler [verb] from the [location].He/She was confronted by a heckler.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “heckler” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The comedian was famously adept at heckling back at the audience members who tried to disrupt his set.
- Protesters planned to heckle the minister during his speech in Parliament Square.
American English
- The candidate got flustered when someone started to heckle him about his tax returns.
- You shouldn't heckle the performers; it's rude.
adverb
British English
- He shouted hecklingly from the balcony, much to the annoyance of the speaker. (Very rare/constructed)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form. 'He shouted heckles' or 'He shouted in a heckling manner' would be used instead.)
adjective
British English
- The comedian faced a heckling crowd but remained unphased.
- He was subjected to a sustained period of heckling abuse.
American English
- The heckling comments from the back of the room grew increasingly hostile.
- She has a great heckling comeback for every situation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare. Might be used metaphorically for an aggressively critical shareholder at an AGM.
Academic
Rare, except in analyses of political discourse, performance studies, or media commentary.
Everyday
Common in news reports about public figures being interrupted. Used in conversation about live events, especially comedy or politics.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “heckler”
- Using 'heckler' for someone who simply asks a polite question during a Q&A session.
- Confusing with 'hacker'.
- Spelling: 'heckler' not 'hecklar' or 'heckelor'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is inherently disruptive and confrontational. While some performers enjoy the challenge, the act itself is intended to interrupt and challenge the speaker/performer.
A heckler operates in a real-time, physical (or sometimes live-broadcast) setting, targeting a specific, present individual. A 'troll' acts anonymously online, often in written form, seeking to provoke a reaction from a community or individual for their own amusement.
Yes, the verb is 'to heckle'. The person doing it is the 'heckler'.
It originates from the dialectal verb 'heckle' meaning to comb flax or hemp. By the early 19th century, it evolved metaphorically in Scottish contexts to mean 'to question (a parliamentary candidate) severely', akin to teasing out fibres, which later generalized to public badgering or interruption.
A person who interrupts a performer, speaker, or public event by shouting out comments, often critical or abusive ones, typically to challenge or deride them.
Heckler is usually informal, sometimes journalistic. rarely used in formal legal or technical writing. can be pejorative. in register.
Heckler: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɛk.lər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɛk.lɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to play to the hecklers (rare)”
- “heckler's veto (US political/legal term)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a person with a giant, noisy RATTLE (sounds like 'heckler') in a quiet theatre, disrupting the show.
Conceptual Metaphor
PUBLIC DISCOURSE IS A PERFORMANCE / THE HECKLER IS A WEAPON (disrupting the flow).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'heckler' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?