# comedian

/kəˈmidiən/ (US) · /kəmˈiːdiən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/comedian
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. professional entertainer

noun · CEFR A2

a person whose job is to make people laugh, often by telling jokes on stage.

For teachers: a professional entertainer who performs humorous routines, such as stand-up comedy, to amuse an audience.

- The comedian told a funny story about his dog that made the whole audience laugh.
- The comedian's sharp observational humour resonated with the audience, leading to a sold-out tour across the country.

Usage: Often used with 'stand-up' to describe a performer who speaks directly to the audience.

### 2. a funny person

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

someone you know who is very funny or likes to tell jokes.

For teachers: an individual who is characteristically humorous or amusing in social situations.

- My brother is a real comedian; he always has a joke ready for every situation.
- Every office has its resident comedian who lightens the mood during stressful deadlines with well-timed quips.

Teaching tip: In this informal sense, it can sometimes be used sarcastically to mean someone is being annoying or silly.

### 3. theatrical actor

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an actor who performs in plays.

For teachers: a person who performs in theatrical productions; historically used for any actor but now restricted to those in comedic roles.

- In the old theatre, the comedians would travel from town to town to perform.
- The troupe consisted of six comedians and three musicians, all of whom were well-versed in the traditions of the commedia dell'arte.

Usage: In modern English, this sense is almost entirely replaced by 'actor' or 'comic actor'.

## Examples

- The comedian told a very funny joke about his dog.
- After years of performing at small clubs, the comedian finally landed a special on a major streaming platform.
- The success of a stand-up comedian depends as much on their mastery of timing and audience rapport as it does on the actual quality of the written material.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.