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
Recent Examples on the Web
Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024
Even after the four-star generals quit the cabinet, insecure clowns are the ones who will kill us all.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clown 
Noun
Coincidentally, Michael’s grandfather, Rub Simmonds, was a professional clown with the Cole Brothers in the 1940s.
—Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024
Even after the four-star generals quit the cabinet, insecure clowns are the ones who will kill us all.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 18 Apr. 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 3 May. 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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