Humor

/ˈhjuːmər/

Meaning & Definition

noun
The quality of being amusing or entertaining.
His sense of humor made even the toughest situations bearable.
A mood or state of mind.
She was in a cheerful humor after hearing the good news.
The ability to express or perceive what is amusing.
The comedian's humor was relatable and brought laughter to the audience.
verb
To accommodate or adapt to someone’s wishes or mood.
He often humors his children by letting them choose the movies they watch.

Etymology

From Latin 'humor' meaning 'moisture', 'liquid', which evolved in Middle English to its current meaning.

Common Phrases and Expressions

sense of humor:
The ability to appreciate or express humor.
pull someone's leg:
To tease someone in a joking manner.
laughing matter:
A situation that is funny or amusing.
dark humor:
Humor that finds comedy in serious, grim, or taboo subjects.
have a laugh:
To enjoy something that is funny.

Related Words

Slang Meanings

Sick humor
His sick humor often pushes the boundaries of what’s acceptable.
Dad jokes
He loves telling dad jokes that make everyone roll their eyes.
Gallows humor
In times of crisis, some people resort to gallows humor to cope.
Inside joke
Their whole group shared an inside joke that no one else understood.
Dry humor
Her dry humor often makes people laugh without her even cracking a smile.