jocular
Say it: JOK-yuh-luh /ˈdʒɒkjʊlə/ · adjective
What “jocular” means
Cheerful and fond of making jokes.
More precisely: Fond of joking; playful and humorous.
Example: “The surgeon's jocular manner put nervous patients at ease.”
When to use it
Use it to describe someone's joking manner or a playful conversation; it sounds slightly more formal than jokey.
Similar words
jovial, playful, humorous
Where it comes from
From Latin jocularis, from joculus, 'little joke'.
Quick check
A usually serious teacher greets the class with silly jokes and keeps everyone smiling. Today, their manner is…
jocular or solemn?
Show the answer
jocular
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