Joker
ˈdʒoʊkər
Definitions
3 meaningsA person who jokes or is fond of joking.
ˈdʒoʊkər
A person who tells jokes; a comedian.
My friend is a real joker; he always knows how to cheer me up.
💡 Simply: Imagine a friend who's always cracking jokes and making people laugh. That's a joker!
👶 For kids: A joker is a person who likes to tell jokes and make people laugh!
More Examples
The office joker is always cracking silly jokes to lighten the mood.
She's the joker in our family, always coming up with funny one-liners.
How It's Used
"The comedian was a real joker, keeping the audience laughing all night."
"He's the joker of the group, always making light of serious situations."
A playing card typically depicting a court jester or clown, used as a wild card or having a special function.
ˈdʒoʊkər
A playing card that is often used as a wild card.
The rules of the game allow the use of a joker as a wild card.
💡 Simply: Remember that special card in a deck of cards that can be any card you need? That's the joker.
👶 For kids: A joker is a special card in a deck of cards.
More Examples
He added a joker to his poker hand, hoping to win.
The deck of cards included two jokers.
How It's Used
"In this card game, the joker can be any card the player needs."
A person or thing that interferes with a system or process.
ˈdʒoʊkər
A person or thing regarded as a threat or disruptive influence.
The new regulation was seen as a joker to the established financial system.
💡 Simply: Like something or someone that throws a wrench in the works! A disruption.
👶 For kids: When something bad happens and messes things up.
More Examples
He felt like the unexpected change was a joker in his plans.
The unexpected delay was a joker to the project's timeline.
How It's Used
"The new policy was seen as a joker to the existing system."
Idioms & expressions
play the joker
To behave in a mischievous or unconventional way, especially in a difficult or dangerous situation.
"When the situation got tense, he decided to play the joker and lighten the mood with a silly joke."
joker in the pack
A person or thing that unexpectedly complicates a situation.
"The new recruit turned out to be the joker in the pack; his unorthodox methods caused chaos."
From the card game, where a joker is a special card used as a wild card. Its usage then expanded to refer to a person who makes jokes.
Originally associated with the card game, the term's usage has expanded to describe someone who is humorous.