1
: farmer, countryman
2
: a rude ill-bred person : boor
3
a
: a fool, jester, or comedian in an entertainment (such as a play)
specifically
: a grotesquely dressed comedy performer in a circus
b
: a person who habitually jokes and plays the buffoon
c
clowned; clowning; clowns
: to act as or like a clown
always clowning around
Examples of clown in a Sentence
Noun
Those big shoes make you look like a clown!
Who's the clown standing in the middle of the road?
those clowns at the state capital
Verb
as a youngster he was always clowning around in the classroom
Recent Examples on the Web
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2025
Among the mass-shooting victims is a bloodied clown who was performing at the festival.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 14 Apr. 2025
The alternating worlds are meant to be playful, but Toontown especially gets exhausting quickly, with characters mugging, clowning and amplifying every limp punchline.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clown
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Noun
In real time, the audience, the queens watching, and perhaps Suzie herself all learn that Suzie has a knack for sexiness onstage, even though she’s dressed as a clown.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2025
Among the mass-shooting victims is a bloodied clown who was performing at the festival.
—James Poniewozik, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
On Sunday, Ja hopped on X to fire a few shots at 50 Cent, who clowned Ja’s appearance on The Breakfast Club last week.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 14 Apr. 2025
The alternating worlds are meant to be playful, but Toontown especially gets exhausting quickly, with characters mugging, clowning and amplifying every limp punchline.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clown
Cite this Entry
“Clown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clown. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clown
1 of 2 noun1
: a rude and often stupid person
2
: a performer (as in a play or circus) who usually wears funny clothes and makeup and tries to make people laugh
clownish
adjective
ˈklau̇-nish
clownishly
adverb
clownishness
noun
clown
2 of 2 verb
: to act like a clown
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