1
: farmer, countryman
2
: a rude ill-bred person : boor
3
a
: a fool, jester, or comedian in an entertainment (such as a play)
specifically
: a grotesquely dressed comedy performer in a circus
b
: a person who habitually jokes and plays the buffoon
c
clowned; clowning; clowns
: to act as or like a clown
always clowning around
Synonyms
Examples of clown in a Sentence
Noun
Those big shoes make you look like a clown!
Who's the clown standing in the middle of the road?
those clowns at the state capital
Verb
as a youngster he was always clowning around in the classroom
Recent Examples on the Web
The Editors, National Review, 25 June 2024
The uncanny valley phenomenon is the uneasy feeling people have towards life-like, but not quite human things such as robots, dolls or even clowns.
—Krystal Hur, CNN, 23 June 2024
Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2024
The two actors joined The Envelope to discuss sisterly bonding, improvisation and clowning around — literally.
—Margy Rochlin, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for clown 
Noun
In an age when Congress is increasingly a repository for publicity-seeking fools and venal pocket-liners rather than legislators, the Democratic voters of New York’s 16th congressional district have a rare opportunity to exchange a clown and antisemite for a more standard-issue liberal.
—The Editors, National Review, 25 June 2024
The uncanny valley phenomenon is the uneasy feeling people have towards life-like, but not quite human things such as robots, dolls or even clowns.
—Krystal Hur, CNN, 23 June 2024
Verb
People have been clamoring and clowning about the whereabouts of Normani’s debut album for a pop-music eternity.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2024
The two actors joined The Envelope to discuss sisterly bonding, improvisation and clowning around — literally.
—Margy Rochlin, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for clown
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clown.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Clown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clown. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clown
1 of 2 noun1
: a rude and often stupid person
2
: a performer (as in a play or circus) who usually wears funny clothes and makeup and tries to make people laugh
clownish
adjective
ˈklau̇-nish
clownishly
adverb
clownishness
noun
clown
2 of 2 verb
: to act like a clown
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