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Definition of punchline

punchline

/ˈpʌntʃ.laɪn/
punch · line
Plural:punchlines
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punchline Lexical Profile

punchline Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The final phrase or sentence of a joke or comedic story that provides the humor, unexpected twist, or climax.

Example

"Everyone at the dinner table burst out laughing before he could even finish delivering the punchline."

2

The decisive, concluding, or most impactful point of an argument, presentation, or narrative.

Example

"After presenting twenty minutes of complex financial data, the analyst finally arrived at the punchline of her report."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for punchline

• Nearby Words

punchily
punchiness
punchless
punchline
punchout
punchy
punctual

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in American theatrical and vaudeville slang in the 1920s, combining "punch" (in the figurative sense of vigorous impact or effectiveness) with "line" (a spoken line of dialogue).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Punchline. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/punchline
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