English Reference
Noun

buffoon

n. countable
C1 Advanced US /bəˈfun/ UK /bʌfˈuːn/ buf·foon UK spelling buffoon's, buffoon's

n.a person who is very silly, loud, or annoying. You use this word to describe someone who acts like a clown in a way that is not funny at all.

n.a person who is foolish, clownish, or ridiculous in appearance or behavior. Often carries a derogatory or dismissive tone.


SIMPLE

The politician was treated like a buffoon by the news reporters.

CONTEXTUAL

After making several embarrassing mistakes in front of the board, the manager was dismissed as a buffoon by his colleagues.

COMPLEX

The satirical play portrays the king as a buffoon, highlighting how his lack of intelligence and erratic behavior eventually leads to the collapse of his entire court.

Image caption, The Daily Mirror calls Tice a "wine buffoon" in its headline, referencing his comments on the deadly heatwaves being good for English wine production.

BBC News· 18 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated