joker

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. an extra card in a pack, usually showing a person in a funny hat, used in some games.

n. a playing card, typically depicting a jester, used as a wild card or highest-ranking card in various games.

“I won the game because I was lucky enough to draw the joker.”

“In this particular variation of poker, the joker functions as a wild card that can represent any suit or value required to complete a hand.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal · British English

n. a person you think is stupid, annoying, or not serious.

n. a person viewed with contempt or dismissed as incompetent or foolish.

“Some joker parked his car right in front of my driveway.”

“The manager was tired of dealing with the jokers in the marketing department who never took the budget constraints seriously.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal

n. something you keep secret until the right time to help you win.

n. a resource or factor kept in reserve that can be used to gain a decisive advantage.

“The lawyer had one last joker to play that would prove his client was innocent.”

“The unexpected endorsement from the former prime minister served as the campaign's joker, shifting the polls in the final week of the election.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Military Technical

n. a friendly soldier or vehicle that acts as the enemy during training.

n. a friendly unit designated to act as a suspected hostile force during a military exercise.

“Our squad was assigned to play the joker during the night training mission.”

“The exercise was complicated by a joker unit that successfully infiltrated the command centre while the main force was distracted by a simulated air strike.”