: that quality which appeals to a sense of the ludicrous or absurdly incongruous : a funny or amusing quality
Try to appreciate the humor of the situation.
b
: the mental faculty of discovering, expressing, or appreciating the ludicrous or absurdly incongruous : the ability to be funny or to be amused by things that are funny
a woman with a great sense of humor
c
: something that is or is designed to be comical or amusing
The book is a collection of American humor.
not a fan of the comedian's brand of humor
2
a
: an often temporary state of mind imposed especially by circumstances
was in no humor to listen
b
: characteristic or habitual disposition or bent : temperament
of cheerful humor
c
in medieval physiology: a fluid or juice of an animal or plant
specifically: one of the four fluids entering into the constitution of the body and determining by their relative proportions a person's health and temperament
d
: a sudden, unpredictable, or unreasoning inclination : whim
… conceived the humor of impeaching casual passers-by … and wreaking vengeance on them. Charles Dickens
the uncertain humors of nature
3
a
: a normal functioning bodily semifluid or fluid (such as the blood or lymph)
b
physiology: a secretion (such as a hormone) that is an excitant of activity
: to soothe or content (someone) by indulgence : to comply with the temperament or inclinations of
The only way to get along with him is to humor him.
I know you don't agree, but just humor me.
2
: to adapt oneself to
… yielding to, and humoring the motion of the limbs and twigs … William Bartram
Phrases
out of humor
: out of sorts
Did you know?
In the Middle Ages it was believed that a person’s health and disposition were the result of a balance of four fluids in the body. These fluids were called humors, from the Latin word humor, meaning “moisture.” The fluids were blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. If a person had a cheerful disposition, it was said to be a result of an excess of blood. A sluggish disposition was the result of an excess of phlegm. A hot-tempered disposition was said to be caused by an excess of yellow bile, and the disposition of a gloomy person was the result of an excess of black bile. In time, humor came to be used as a general term for “disposition or temperament.” From this developed the sense of “a changeable state of mind” or “mood.” More recently humor has come to refer to something that is funny.
wit suggests the power to evoke laughter by remarks showing verbal felicity or ingenuity and swift perception especially of the incongruous.
a playful wit
humor implies an ability to perceive the ludicrous, the comical, and the absurd in human life and to express these usually without bitterness.
a sense of humor
irony applies to a manner of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is seemingly expressed.
the irony of the title
sarcasm applies to expression frequently in the form of irony that is intended to cut or wound.
given to heartless sarcasm
satire applies to writing that exposes or ridicules conduct, doctrines, or institutions either by direct criticism or more often through irony, parody, or caricature.
a satire on the Congress
repartee implies the power of answering quickly, pointedly, or wittily.
indulge implies excessive compliance and weakness in gratifying another's or one's own desires.
indulged myself with food at the slightest excuse
pamper implies inordinate gratification of desire for luxury and comfort with consequent enervating effect.
pampered by the amenities of modern living
humor stresses a yielding to a person's moods or whims.
humored him by letting him tell the story
spoil stresses the injurious effects on character by indulging or pampering.
foolish parents spoil their children
baby suggests excessive care, attention, or solicitude.
babying students by grading too easily
mollycoddle suggests an excessive degree of care and attention to another's health or welfare.
refused to mollycoddle her malingering son
Example Sentences
Noun He didn't appreciate the humor of the situation. Someday, you'll see the humor in this. Everyone likes the gentle humor of his stories of family life. She doesn't care for ethnic humor. The book is a collection of American humor. His humor is one of his most attractive qualities. Verb The only way to get along with him is to humor him. humored her grandfather by listening to his war stories for the hundredth timeSee More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In fact, comedy helped get him through nursing school, and now his sense of humor helps brighten the days of his patients, his colleagues and others in the area. Ed Stannard, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2022 Someone with Photoshop and a sick sense of humor had doctored icons of Spongebob, Patrick, and Squidward next to the corresponding yellow, pink, and blue puddles. Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 16 Sep. 2022 Serious as that might sound, there was also a touch of humor. José Criales-unzueta, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2022 The group members share a similar sense of humor and enjoy doing fun activities such as yoga, working out at the gym, going on hikes, cooking meals, and going on picnics. Josh Reed, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Sep. 2022 Camilla’s mischievousness sense of humor went viral in 2019, during a visit to London by then-president Donald Trump. Kevin Sullivan, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2022 Prada character seems to have a wickedly funny sense of humor. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 14 Sep. 2022 Sarver’s actions over an 18-year period that revealed a man who used his status to intimidate employees and a warped sense of humor to make repugnant jokes and assessments of his staff. Gary Washburn, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2022 Showcase your sense of humor with this quirky rooftop display. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2022
Verb
Coming on the heels of a price increase for customers who suddenly had to pay for two services instead of one, subscribers were in no mood to humor the whimsical name and lambasted it online. Mae Anderson, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2021 Coming on the heels of a price increase for customers who suddenly had to pay for two services instead of one, subscribers were in no mood to humor the whimsical name and lambasted it online. Mae Anderson, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2021 Coming on the heels of a price increase for customers who suddenly had to pay for two services instead of one, subscribers were in no mood to humor the whimsical name and lambasted it online. Mae Anderson, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2021 Coming on the heels of a price increase for customers who suddenly had to pay for two services instead of one, subscribers were in no mood to humor the whimsical name and lambasted it online. Mae Anderson, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2021 Coming on the heels of a price increase for customers who suddenly had to pay for two services instead of one, subscribers were in no mood to humor the whimsical name and lambasted it online. Mae Anderson, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2021 Coming on the heels of a price increase for customers who suddenly had to pay for two services instead of one, subscribers were in no mood to humor the whimsical name and lambasted it online. Mae Anderson, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2021 Coming on the heels of a price increase for customers who suddenly had to pay for two services instead of one, subscribers were in no mood to humor the whimsical name and lambasted it online. Mae Anderson, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2021 Coming on the heels of a price increase for customers who suddenly had to pay for two services instead of one, subscribers were in no mood to humor the whimsical name and lambasted it online. Mae Anderson, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2021 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English humour, from Anglo-French umor, umour, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin humor, from Latin humor, umor moisture; akin to Old Norse vǫkr damp, Latin humēre to be moist, and perhaps to Greek hygros wet