jester
Say it: JES-tuh /ˈdʒɛstə/ · noun
What “jester” means
A performer paid to make a royal court laugh.
More precisely: A professional joker at a medieval court; now, anyone who plays the fool.
Example: “Every friend group has a jester, and in ours it's definitely Marco.”
When to use it
Use it for a medieval court entertainer, or playfully for the person who always makes a group laugh.
Memory trick
A jest is a joke; a jester makes a living telling them.
It can also mean
Today, it can mean someone who keeps a group amused by playing the fool.
Similar words
fool, joker, clown
Quick check
In a medieval hall, a performer in a pointed cap entertains the king with jokes and tumbling. Who is he?
a jester or a herald?
Show the answer
a jester
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