JOKER
What does "JOKER" mean?
A person who jokes a lot, or a special extra card in a standard deck.
Meanings
- Someone who makes jokes or behaves playfully, sometimes to a fault. He's the office joker - always good for a laugh, rarely on time.
- An extra playing card, usually showing a jester, used as a wild card in many games. She drew the joker and used it to complete her run.
- A hidden clause or factor that can unexpectedly change a situation. The new tariff was the joker in the deal that nobody saw coming. figurative
Did you know?
- The joker is the only playing card invented in America: it was added in the 1860s as a top trump card for the game euchre, then spread into decks worldwide.
Word origin
From 'joke' (from Latin 'jocus', a jest) plus '-er'; the card sense is an American addition from the 1860s, likely tied to the trump card of the game euchre.
Remember it
JOKER = JOKE + R: the one who tells the joke, and the card that's always in on it.
A little poem
He belongs to no suit, answers to no king-
the laughing wild card that can be anything.
couplet
Wordplay
- The wild card walked into the meeting and said, 'I can be whatever you need.' Management hired him as a consultant.
What it teaches
The one who fits no category is often the one who can change the whole game.
Quick facts
What does JOKER mean?
A person who jokes a lot, or a special extra card in a standard deck.
Is JOKER a valid word?
Yes — JOKER is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is JOKER?
JOKER has 5 letters and 2 syllables.
Where does JOKER come from?
From 'joke' (from Latin 'jocus', a jest) plus '-er'; the card sense is an American addition from the 1860s, likely tied to the trump card of the game euchre.
What can JOKER teach us?
The one who fits no category is often the one who can change the whole game.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.