comedian

noun

co·​me·​di·​an kə-ˈmē-dē-ən 

1

archaic

a

: a writer of comedies

b

: an actor who plays comic roles

2

: a comical individual

specifically : a professional entertainer who uses any of various physical or verbal means to be amusing

Synonyms

• comic
• entertainer
• joker
• humorist
• wit
• funnyman
• clown

Examples of comedian in a Sentence

You'll like my friend. He's a real comedian.

struggled to eke out a living as a comedian in nightclubs

Recent Examples on the Web

The restaurant also has a stage and had been bringing in live music and comedians. —Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025

The comedian wrote a short but powerful caption to mark year nine on Instagram in August 2025. —Essence, 15 Aug. 2025

Tonight’s performance is billed as the Killers of Kill Tony, which will feature comedians who have become regulars on his wildly popular comedy competition. —Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 15 Aug. 2025

Rita, a character Oteri auditioned with, first popped up in her third-ever episode of SNL, in which the comedian faced several obstacles of her own. —EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for comedian

• submedian
• paramedian

Kids Definition

comedian

noun

co·​me·​di·​an kə-ˈmēd-ē-ən 

1

: an actor who plays in comedy

2

: a comical individual

especially : a humorous professional entertainer