jest
Say it: JEST /dʒɛst/ · noun
What “jest” means
Something said or done as a joke.
More precisely: Something said or done for amusement; a joke.
Example: “Said in jest or not, the comment about her age stung.”
When to use it
Use it for a joke, especially in the phrase “in jest”; the word can sound slightly old-fashioned or literary.
Similar words
joke, quip, witticism
Where it comes from
From Latin gesta, 'actions, exploits'; it once meant a tale of deeds.
Quick check
Your friend solemnly crowns a potato king of the kitchen, then laughs at the silly performance. It was…
a decree or a jest?
Show the answer
a jest
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