clown

clown — noun

1. a performer who wears bright, unusual clothing and makeup on the face, and uses

1.nounA2
Definition

a performer who wears bright, unusual clothing and makeup on the face, and uses physical comedy, tricks, and silly behaviour to entertain people, especially children at a circus, party, or show.

Example

The children laughed when the clown at the birthday party made balloon animals.

collocation: clown at + [event]

Leila painted a red nose and dressed as a clown for the school play.

collocation: dress as a clown

Common collocations
  • circus clown
  • party clown
  • clown costume
  • clown nose
  • clown wig
  • clown shoes
  • sad clown
Synonyms
  • comedian

    focuses on verbal humour through jokes and stories rather than physical comedy and costume

  • mime

    performs silently using body movements and gestures, without spoken words or props

  • buffoon

    older, more disapproving term for someone who acts ridiculously; less common in modern English

Grammar Patterns

a clown

the clown

clown + at + [event/place]

Usage Note

Often modified by adjectives that describe the type of performance, such as 'circus clown', 'party clown', or 'rodeo clown'. The compound 'clown costume' refers to the full outfit including wig, nose, and oversized shoes.

Common Mistakes

The jester performed tricks at the birthday party.
The clown performed tricks at the birthday party.
A 'jester' is a historical court entertainer from medieval times, not a modern performer at parties or circuses.

2. someone whose deliberate silliness or joking is meant to amuse others — or who a

2.nounB1
Definition

someone whose deliberate silliness or joking is meant to amuse others — or who acts this way when they should be taking things seriously instead.

Example

Stop acting like a clown in class — the teacher is getting angry.

pattern: act like a clown (disapproving)

Ravi is the class clown who always cracks jokes when the lesson gets boring.

fixed compound: class clown

Common collocations
  • class clown
  • act like a clown
  • behave like a clown
  • a bit of a clown
Synonyms
  • joker

    more neutral; someone who tells jokes but may not use physical comedy

  • prankster

    focuses on playing tricks on others rather than just acting silly

  • jester

    historical term; very rare in modern conversational use

Grammar Patterns

a clown

act like a clown

class clown

Usage Note

Common in the fixed expression 'class clown', which refers to a student known for making others laugh during lessons. When applied to adults, this sense can be either affectionate ('a lovable clown') or critical ('don't be such a clown').

Common Mistakes

Stop being such a fool — we need to focus.' (when meaning silly/funny).
Stop being such a clown
we need to focus.' — 'Fool' suggests low intelligence or bad judgment, while 'clown' suggests intentional silliness or showing off.

clown — verb

Word family

  • clowning
    nounB2
  • clownish
    adjectiveC1
  • clownishly
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words describe people who entertain or amuse others, but the context and the method of humour differ. A 'clown' relies on physical comedy, exaggerated costumes, and painted makeup, typically performing at circuses or children's parties. A 'comedian' uses spoken jokes and storytelling, usually on stage or television — think of a stand-up routine rather than balloon animals. A 'jester' is a historical figure from royal courts who wore a cap with bells and used satire; this word is rarely used in modern daily speech. A 'mime' performs silently with white face paint, using body movement and gestures instead of words. 'Buffoon' carries a harsher tone — it describes someone whose behaviour is ridiculously foolish, not a trained entertainer. For example: 'The clown made the children laugh by tripping over his giant shoes,' but 'The comedian had the audience in stitches with a clever joke about airport security.'

clown ↗comedian ↗jestermime ↗buffoon

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • class clown
  • clown around
  • clown about

Prepositions

Etymology

Scandinavian or Low GermanEnglish

The word 'clown' first appeared in English during the 1500s. Its origin is uncertain, but it may come from an old Scandinavian word 'klunni' meaning a clumsy or awkward person, or from a Low German word 'klön' meaning a rough, unsophisticated fellow. In Shakespeare's time, a clown was a rustic country person or a fool in a play. By the 1800s, the meaning shifted to the familiar circus entertainer with painted face and oversized shoes that we know today.