comedian

Definition

An entertainer who performs in a humorous manner, especially by telling jokes.

Etymology

From Latin cōmoedia + -an, perhaps modelled on Middle French comédien. By surface analysis, comedy + -an.

Example Sentences

• "According to Jared Freid, a 39-year-old comedian and co-host of the dating podcast "U Up?," this is known as hoodfishing, a coinage — though not his own — referring to people claiming to be from the city they are dating in but really are living somewhere else entirely."
• "[…] the quick comedians Extemporally will stage us, and present Our Alexandrian revels;"
• "1714, Susanna Centlivre, The Wonder, London: E. Curll and A. Bettesworth, Preface, I Don’t pretend to write a Preface, either to point out the Beauties, or to excuse the Errors, a judicious Reader may possibly discover in the following Scenes, but to give those excellent Comedians their Due, to whom, in some Measure the best Dramatick Writers are oblig’d."