witty

adjective

wit·​ty ˈwi-tē 

wittier; wittiest

1

: marked by or full of clever humor or wit : smartly facetious or jocular

a witty novel

2

: quick or ready to see or express illuminating or amusing relationships or insights

a witty raconteur

3

: amusingly or ingeniously clever in conception or execution

the costumes are sumptuous and witty

—Virgil Thomson

the musical background is … often witty

—Wolcott Gibbs

4

archaic : having good intellectual capacity : intelligent

wittily

ˈwi-tə-lē 

adverb

wittiness

ˈwi-tē-nəs 

noun

Did you know?

Witty and Wise

When we call someone witty, we are typically ascribing to them the quality of clever humor. This has not always been the case: witty (and the word it is formed from, wit) originally referred to intelligence or good judgment. Although the “mentally capable” meaning of witty has largely become obsolete, we still see vestiges of it in various expressions involving wit, such as wit and wisdom or out of one’s wits. Another phrase, to wit, meaning “that is, namely,” comes directly from the Middle English to witen (“to know”).

Synonyms

• clever
• facetious
• humorous
• jocular
• smart

Choose the Right Synonym for witty

witty, humorous, facetious, jocular, jocose mean provoking or intended to provoke laughter.

witty suggests cleverness and quickness of mind.

a witty remark

humorous applies broadly to anything that evokes usually genial laughter and may contrast with witty in suggesting whimsicality or eccentricity.

humorous anecdotes

facetious stresses a desire to produce laughter and may be derogatory in implying dubious or ill-timed attempts at wit or humor.

facetious comments

jocular implies a usually habitual fondness for jesting and joking.

a jocular fellow

jocose is somewhat less derogatory than facetious in suggesting habitual waggishness or playfulness.

jocose proposals

Examples of witty in a Sentence

We'd kept everything witty and cool, until the air between us was so ironized that to say anything in earnest would have been a breach of manners, even of trust. —Tobias Wolff, Old School, 2003

… when she walked up to me and made a caustic remark on the principal's address of the morning, I couldn't help laughing, as she was obviously not only intelligent but very witty. —Margaret A. Edwards, The Fair Garden and the Swarm of Beasts, 1994

Yet for all his solemnity, Hamlet was also the play's and Shakespeare's wittiest wit, with as many one-liners as any comic in the whole canon. —Reed Whittemore, Pure Lives, 1988

a witty talk show host

a witty and sardonic blogger who never fails to amuse his legion of readers

Recent Examples on the Web

Thoughtful and witty scripts, a magnetic cast and a lot of gags make the series work, adding up a lot of little bits to a great whole. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024

Their first American press conference at JFK's arrivals hall is unforgettable for their witty one-liners. —Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024

The vibes are indeed there at the start–from the coming-of-age wonder that made '80s Amblin movies a hit, to the witty banter and tech savviness of today's tween. —Devonne Goode, Parents, 3 Dec. 2024

In more than a decade, he’s built Loewe into one of the fashion world’s buzziest brands thanks to designs that range from witty and surreal to expertly tailored and award-winning, a roster of high-profile ambassadors and inventive campaigns. —Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see wit entry 2

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Kids Definition

witty

adjective

wit·​ty ˈwit-ē 

wittier; wittiest

: marked by or full of wit : amusing

a witty writer

a witty remark

wittily

ˈwit-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

wittiness

ˈwit-ē-nəs 

noun