comedian

Noun

comedian (plural comedians)

1. An entertainer who performs in a humorous manner, especially by telling jokes.
   • According to Jared Freid, a 39-year-old comedian and co-host of the dating podcast "U Up?," this is known as hoodfishing, a coinage — though not his own — referring to people claiming to be from the city they are dating in but really are living somewhere else entirely.2024 August 29, Gina Cherelus, “The Irresistible Urge to Change Your Location on a Dating App”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the...

   Synonyms:

   comic, laughsmith

2. (broadly) Any person who is humorous or amusing, either characteristically or on a particular occasion.
   • It's been my job for many years and taken me to many places, and into many a tight spot, but, on the railway, you'll always find a comedian in the gang, to raise a laugh and keep you going.1960 April, A. W. Bennett, “The Locomotive Shedmaster's Day”, in Railway Magazine, page 284

   Synonyms:

   card, cutup, gagster, joker, wag, wit

3. (dated) A person who performs in theatrical plays.
   • […] the quick comedians
     Extemporally will stage us, and present
     Our Alexandrian revels;c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard...
   • I Don’t pretend to write a Preface, either to point out the Beauties, or to excuse the Errors, a judicious Reader may possibly discover in the following Scenes, but to give those excellent Comedians their Due, to whom, in some Measure the best Dramatick Writers are oblig’d.1714, Susanna Centlivre, The Wonder, London: E. Curll and A. Bettesworth, Preface

   Synonyms:

   actor, player, thespian

4. (obsolete) A writer of comedies.
   • This doth the Comedy handle ſo in our priuate and domeſtical matters, as with hearing it, we get as it were an experience, what is to be looked for of a nigardly Demea: of a crafty Danus: of a flattering Gnato: of a vaine glorious Thraſo: and not onely to know what effects are to be expected, but...a. 1587 (date written), Phillip Sidney [i.e., Philip Sidney], An Apologie for Poetrie. […], London: […] [James Roberts] for Henry Olney, […], published 1595, →OCLC; republished as Edward Arber...
   • Neither is it recorded that the writings of those old Comedians were supprest, though the acting of them were forbid;1644, John Milton, Areopagitica; a Speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc’d Printing, to the Parlament of England, London: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 5