buffoon
buffoon Lexical Profile
buffoon Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A ridiculous, foolish, or bumbling person who amuses others through coarse, absurd, or inept behavior.
"He acted like a complete buffoon at the formal dinner, embarrassing his colleagues with loud, inappropriate jokes."
A professional clown or jester who entertains an audience with physical comedy, mimicry, and slapstick.
"In Renaissance theater, the buffoon often delivered sharp social commentary disguised as silly antics."
• verb
To act like a clown or fool; to engage in ridiculous or coarse antics.
"The children spent the afternoon buffooning around in the living room to make their grandparents laugh."
• Rhymes for buffoon
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the mid-16th century from Middle French bouffon, from Italian buffone ('jester'), derived from buffare ('to puff out the cheeks'), a comic gesture historically performed by theatrical clowns.