Word
banter
Phoneticsban·ter, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbæntɝ/
UK/bˈɑːntɐ/
Definitions
01playful teasing
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Informal
n. friendly and funny conversation where people joke with each other.
n. good-humoured, playful, and typically spontaneous conversation involving light teasing.
“The friends shared some light banter while they waited for their food to arrive.”
“The office environment was characterized by constant witty banter, which helped alleviate the stress of the high-pressure deadlines.”
Synonyms
02to joke around
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
v. to talk to someone in a friendly and joking way.
v. to engage in playful or witty conversation; to tease someone in a lighthearted manner.
“They spent the whole afternoon bantering about their favorite movies.”
“The two presenters bantered effortlessly on stage, making the technical awards ceremony much more entertaining for the audience.”
Real-World Examples
“Working from home, you don’t get that sort of office banter.” “They are old friends and banter over the “ice cold” celebration.” Etymology
1670s as verb, 1680s as noun. The origin is unknown, possibly from London street slang; ostensibly as *bant + -er (frequentative suffix). Possibly an Anglo-Gaelicism from the Irish bean (“woman”), so that "banter" means "talk of women."
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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