jokester
B2Informal, occasionally neutral.
Definition
Meaning
A person who makes jokes; a joker, especially someone who habitually does so.
A person who enjoys making jokes, sometimes to the point of being mildly annoying or disruptive; can imply a person who plays practical jokes or indulges in light-hearted trickery.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically carries a neutral-to-slightly-positive connotation of being humorous, but can sometimes imply foolishness or triviality, especially when prefaced by adjectives like 'class' or 'office'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similar, but 'joker' is more common in British English for the same meaning. 'Jokester' is slightly more frequent and idiomatic in American English.
Connotations
In both varieties, the word is informal. In British English, 'jokester' may sound slightly Americanised.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in AmE; lower frequency in BrE, where 'joker' is the more typical choice.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
He is a bit of a jokester.The team's jokester lightened the mood.Known as the class jokester.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's always playing the jokester.”
- “the jokester of the group”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal: used to describe a colleague who lightens the atmosphere, e.g., 'We rely on the office jokester during stressful weeks.'
Academic
Rarely used in formal academic writing.
Everyday
Common in conversational descriptions of personality, e.g., 'My brother is the family jokester.'
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My friend is a jokester. He makes me laugh.
- He is the jokester in our class.
- The office jokester always has a funny story to tell.
- Don't be such a jokester – we need to finish this work!
- Despite his reputation as a jokester, he was surprisingly thoughtful in serious meetings.
- The team's resident jokester helped diffuse the tension with a well-timed quip.
- His persona as the perpetual jokester often belied a deep-seated insecurity, a classic trait of the class clown archetype.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a JOKE-STER: a 'ster' ending often indicates a person who does something (like trickster, prankster). A person who does jokes.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE JOKESTER IS A PLAYER (in a game of social interaction).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'жокстер' – it's not a Russian word.
- Do not confuse with 'комик' (stand-up comedian). The closest equivalents are 'шутник', 'остряк', or 'забавник'.
- The word does not imply a professional comedian.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'joke-ster' (hyphenated) is incorrect in modern usage.
- Using it in overly formal contexts.
- Confusing it with 'joker' in the sense of a playing card, though context usually clarifies.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym for 'jokester' in a mildly negative context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal. In formal contexts, use 'humorist', 'comedian', or 'wit' depending on the nuance.
A comedian is typically a professional performer. A jokester is anyone who habitually makes jokes, usually in everyday social settings, and is not necessarily performing for an audience.
It can, depending on context. If someone is called a 'jokester' when seriousness is required, it can imply they are frivolous or annoying. Usually, it's neutral or positive.
It is used in both, but is more common and sounds more natural in American English. British English speakers more frequently use 'joker'.