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REFERENCE

joker

n.
US //ˈdʒoʊkɝ// UK //dʒˈəʊkɐ// jok·er
  1. 1 a person who jokes (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    someone who likes to tell jokes or play tricks on people.

    a person who habitually makes jokes or performs pranks.

    Example

    He is the class joker and always makes everyone laugh during lunch.

    Example

    Every office has a resident joker who uses humour to diffuse the tension of tight deadlines and demanding clients.
  2. 2 playing card (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    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.
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  1. 3 foolish or annoying person (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal British English

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The manager was tired of dealing with the jokers in the marketing department who never took the budget constraints seriously.
  2. 4 hidden advantage (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    The unexpected endorsement from the former prime minister served as the campaign's joker, shifting the polls in the final week of the election.
    • trump card
    • ace in the hole
  3. 5 military exercise role (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Military

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    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.
Origin

From joke + -er, but in the sense of a playing card possibly by alteration of Jucker, also the origin of the name of the card game euchre.

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