Joke vs. Jest — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 23, 2024
A joke is a short story or quip with a humorous twist, intended to provoke laughter, while a jest is often a playful remark or act, also aimed at amusing others but can include teasing.
Difference Between Joke and Jest
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Key Differences
A joke typically involves a setup and a punchline, designed to deliver a quick and amusing twist. Whereas, a jest might not follow a structured format and can be more spontaneous, involving playful teasing or mocking.
Jokes are often shared in social settings to entertain and provoke laughter among a group. On the other hand, jests can be more personal, often used to lighten the mood among friends or to poke fun in a light-hearted manner.
The intent behind a joke is primarily to amuse and entertain an audience with a clever or unexpected conclusion. In contrast, a jest might also aim to provoke thought or a playful exchange, and it can be more interactive.
Jokes are a popular form of comedy and are often included in speeches, performances, and broadcasts to enhance entertainment value. Whereas jests are commonly used in everyday conversations and interactions, adding a personal touch to communications.
While jokes are universally recognized as a form of humor, jests can sometimes be misunderstood if the playful intent is not clear to the audience, highlighting the importance of context and relationship between the people involved.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A brief and humorous narrative with a twist.
A playful or mocking remark or action.
Structure
Often has a setup and punchline.
Less structured, can be spontaneous.
Intent
To provoke laughter through surprise.
To amuse, often includes light teasing.
Usage
Common in speeches and performances.
Frequent in personal and casual settings.
Risk of Misunderstanding
Lower, as context is usually clear.
Higher, dependent on relationship context.
Compare with Definitions
Joke
A thing that someone says to cause amusement or laughter, especially a story with a funny punchline.
He told a joke about a confused panda.
Jest
A playful or ironic mimicry; mocking.
He often jested that he was the king of procrastination.
Joke
A trick or deception intended to provoke laughter.
They played a joke on their teacher for April Fool's.
Jest
Playful or unserious behavior.
Their jesting could be heard across the room.
Joke
An amusing or laughable person or thing.
Everyone said his homemade costume was a joke.
Jest
To speak or act in a joking manner.
She jested with her colleagues to break the ice.
Joke
A jest; a witticism.
Her speech was filled with jokes to lighten the mood.
Jest
Something done or said for amusement; a joke.
The entire act was a jest to entertain their friends.
Joke
Something not to be taken seriously; a triviality.
He considered the movie to be a joke.
Jest
An act or a remark made in order to provoke laughter or cause amusement, often at someone else's expense.
His jest about her cooking was taken in good spirit.
Joke
A joke is a display of humour in which words are used within a specific and well-defined narrative structure to make people laugh and is usually not meant to be taken seriously. It takes the form of a story, usually with dialogue, and ends in a punch line.
Jest
A thing said or done for amusement; a joke
He laughed uproariously at his own jest
It was said in jest
Joke
Something said or done to evoke laughter or amusement, especially an amusing story with a punch line.
Jest
Speak in a joking way
You jest, surely?
Joke
A mischievous trick; a prank
Played a joke on his roommate.
Jest
A playful or frivolous mood or manner
Spoken in jest.
Joke
Something that is of ludicrously poor quality
Their delivery service is a joke.
Jest
A playful remark; a witticism or joke.
Joke
Something not to be taken seriously; a triviality
The accident was no joke.
Jest
A playful or amusing act; a prank.
Joke
An object of amusement or laughter; a laughingstock
His loud tie was the joke of the office.
Jest
An object of ridicule; a laughingstock
"There are people ... so cruel as to make a jest of me" (Charles Dickens).
Joke
To tell or play jokes; jest.
Jest
To make witty or amusing remarks.
Joke
To speak in fun; be facetious
You have to be joking.
Jest
To act in a playful or facetious manner.
Joke
To say or write as a joke.
Jest
(archaic) An act performed for amusement; a joke.
I made that comment in jest; it wasn't serious.
Joke
An amusing story.
Jest
(archaic) Someone or something that is ridiculed; the target of a joke.
Your majesty, stop him before he makes you the jest of the court.
Joke
Something said or done for amusement, not in seriousness.
It was a joke!
Jest
(obsolete) A deed; an action; a gest.
Joke
(figuratively) The root cause or main issue, especially an unexpected one
Jest
(obsolete) A mask; a pageant; an interlude.
Joke
(figuratively) A laughably worthless thing or person; a sham.
Your effort at cleaning your room is a joke.
The president was a joke.
Jest
To tell a joke; to talk in a playful manner; to make fun of something or someone.
Surely you jest!
Joke
(figuratively) Something that is far easier or far less challenging than expected.
The final exam was a joke.
Jest
Alternative spelling of just
Joke
(intransitive) To do or say something for amusement rather than seriously.
I didn’t mean what I said — I was only joking.
Jest
A deed; an action; a gest.
The jests or actions of princes.
Joke
(intransitive, followed by with) To dupe in a friendly manner for amusement; to mess with, play with.
Relax, man, I'm just joking with you.
Jest
A mask; a pageant; an interlude.
He promised us, in honor of our guest,To grace our banquet with some pompous jest.
Joke
To make merry with; to make jokes upon; to rally.
To joke a comrade
Jest
The object of laughter or sport; a laughingstock.
Then let me be your jest; I deserve it.
And given in earnest what I begged in jest.
Joke
Something said for the sake of exciting a laugh; something witty or sportive (commonly indicating more of hilarity or humor than jest); a jest; a witticism; as, to crack good-natured jokes.
And gentle dullness ever loves a joke.
Or witty joke our airy senses movesTo pleasant laughter.
Jest
To take part in a merrymaking; - especially, to act in a mask or interlude.
Joke
Something not said seriously, or not actually meant; something done in sport.
Inclose whole downs in walls, 't is all a joke.
Jest
To make merriment by words or actions; to joke; to make light of anything.
He jests at scars that never felt a wound.
Joke
To make merry with; to make jokes upon; to rally; to banter; as, to joke a comrade.
Jest
A humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter;
He told a very funny joke
He knows a million gags
Thanks for the laugh
He laughed unpleasantly at hisown jest
Even a schoolboy's jape is supposed to have some ascertainable point
Joke
To do something for sport, or as a joke; to be merry in words or actions; to jest.
He laughed, shouted, joked, and swore.
Jest
Activity characterized by good humor
Joke
A humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter;
He told a very funny joke
He knows a million gags
Thanks for the laugh
He laughed unpleasantly at hisown jest
Even a schoolboy's jape is supposed to have some ascertainable point
Jest
Tell a joke; speak humorously;
He often jokes even when he appears serious
Joke
Activity characterized by good humor
Jest
Act in a funny or teasing way
Joke
A ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement
Joke
A triviality not to be taken seriously;
I regarded his campaign for mayor as a joke
Joke
Tell a joke; speak humorously;
He often jokes even when he appears serious
Joke
Act in a funny or teasing way
Common Curiosities
How are jokes typically structured?
They often consist of a setup followed by a punchline.
Why might a jest be misunderstood?
Because it relies heavily on the relationship and the context in which it is used.
How can one ensure a jest is taken well?
By knowing the audience well and ensuring the content is suitable.
Can jokes be used in professional settings?
Yes, but they must be appropriate and carefully chosen to suit the audience.
What skills are important for effectively delivering a joke?
Timing, delivery, and understanding of the audience’s sense of humor.
What is the main purpose of a joke?
To entertain and amuse an audience with a structured humorous twist.
Can a jest be hurtful?
Yes, if not delivered with careful consideration of the audience's feelings and the context.
Is a joke always intended to make people laugh?
Primarily, though it can also highlight ironies or societal issues subtly.
What differentiates a jest from a joke in terms of delivery?
Jests are more spontaneous and less structured compared to jokes.
In what settings are jests commonly used?
In informal, personal interactions and casual conversations.
Are jests a common form of humor in literature?
Yes, especially in works that use irony or light-hearted banter.
Can jokes be educational?
Yes, they can be used to make learning more enjoyable and memorable.
What is the role of audience reaction in the success of a joke?
Critical, as the reaction determines whether the joke achieves its purpose of amusement.
What are the risks of using jests in conversation?
They can sometimes lead to misunderstandings if the playful intent isn’t clear.
How do cultural differences impact the reception of jests?
Cultural context can greatly affect how a jest is perceived and whether it is considered appropriate.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
