witty

adjective

wit·​ty ˈwi-tē 

wittier; wittiest

1

: marked by or full of clever humor or wit : smartly facetious or jocular

a witty novel

2

: quick or ready to see or express illuminating or amusing relationships or insights

a witty raconteur

3

: amusingly or ingeniously clever in conception or execution

the costumes are sumptuous and witty

—Virgil Thomson

the musical background is … often witty

—Wolcott Gibbs

4

archaic : having good intellectual capacity : intelligent

wittily

ˈwi-tə-lē 

adverb

wittiness

ˈwi-tē-nəs 

noun

Did you know?

Witty and Wise

When we call someone witty, we are typically ascribing to them the quality of clever humor. This has not always been the case: witty (and the word it is formed from, wit) originally referred to intelligence or good judgment. Although the “mentally capable” meaning of witty has largely become obsolete, we still see vestiges of it in various expressions involving wit, such as wit and wisdom or out of one’s wits. Another phrase, to wit, meaning “that is, namely,” comes directly from the Middle English to witen (“to know”).

Synonyms

• clever
• facetious
• humorous
• jocular
• smart

Choose the Right Synonym for witty

witty, humorous, facetious, jocular, jocose mean provoking or intended to provoke laughter.

witty suggests cleverness and quickness of mind.

a witty remark

humorous applies broadly to anything that evokes usually genial laughter and may contrast with witty in suggesting whimsicality or eccentricity.

humorous anecdotes

facetious stresses a desire to produce laughter and may be derogatory in implying dubious or ill-timed attempts at wit or humor.

facetious comments

jocular implies a usually habitual fondness for jesting and joking.

a jocular fellow

jocose is somewhat less derogatory than facetious in suggesting habitual waggishness or playfulness.

jocose proposals

Examples of witty in a Sentence

We'd kept everything witty and cool, until the air between us was so ironized that to say anything in earnest would have been a breach of manners, even of trust. —Tobias Wolff, Old School, 2003

… when she walked up to me and made a caustic remark on the principal's address of the morning, I couldn't help laughing, as she was obviously not only intelligent but very witty. —Margaret A. Edwards, The Fair Garden and the Swarm of Beasts, 1994

Yet for all his solemnity, Hamlet was also the play's and Shakespeare's wittiest wit, with as many one-liners as any comic in the whole canon. —Reed Whittemore, Pure Lives, 1988

a witty talk show host

a witty and sardonic blogger who never fails to amuse his legion of readers

Recent Examples on the Web

In this puzzle, however, the question is about serving others in restaurants, and the witty answer is TIPS. —Deb Amlen, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025

Falstaff is vitality incarnate — exuberant, excessive, grandiloquent, unashamedly self-preserving, defiant and fleshy, witty and roguish, an addict by personality and addictive to those who can’t help but love him. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 12 Feb. 2025

Starring Hollywood legends Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, the movie follows Harry and Sally’s evolving relationship over the years, punctuated by witty banter and unforgettable scenes, including the famous diner moment. —Jené Luciani Sena, Fox News, 12 Feb. 2025

When Parker began contributing, a year earlier, The New Yorker was struggling to find readers; her humor pieces and witty criticism increased the magazine’s influence and appeal. —The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see wit entry 2

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Kids Definition

witty

adjective

wit·​ty ˈwit-ē 

wittier; wittiest

: marked by or full of wit : amusing

a witty writer

a witty remark

wittily

ˈwit-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

wittiness

ˈwit-ē-nəs 

noun