Pierrot

noun

Pier·​rot ˈpē-ə-ˌrō How to pronounce Pierrot (audio)
: a stock comic character of old French pantomime usually having a whitened face and wearing loose white clothes

Examples of Pierrot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The voluminous but lightweight Pierrot dress, for instance, is an update of one of her earliest designs, originally made from a prohibitively heavy velvet. Kate Guadagnino, New York Times, 7 May 2024 The company is also partnering with animation house studio Pierrot to produce the first official WcDonald’s anime, a four part series that will drop weekly. Chris Morris, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024 While the modern-day Pierrot Grenade may not have as many verbal sparring partners as before, his presence continues to add vibrancy and depth to carnival celebrations, reminding us of the power of humor and satire in reflecting and shaping society. Melissa Noel, Essence, 13 Feb. 2024 The character is also inspired by 17th-century Italian clown Pierrot, fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli, and Donna Summer, per the same release. Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2024 The crooner displaced the commedia dell'arte Pierrot on my list of (sad) male archetypes this year. Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2023 But Stevie, as delicate and melancholy as a Pierrot and twice as confident, does not hear her curses. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 9 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

French, diminutive of Pierre Peter

First Known Use

1726, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Pierrot was in 1726

Dictionary Entries Near Pierrot

Cite this Entry

“Pierrot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pierrot. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Pierrot

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!