Well-read · Humour & insults · Character
Buffoon: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Buffoon noun. A person who behaves in a ridiculous but amusing way; a clown.
How to say it
buh-FOON/bəˈfuːn/
2 syllables, stressed on the second (FOON).
Buffoon in a sentence
He played the buffoon at parties, but at work he was formidable.
The press painted the mayor as a buffoon, which suited him perfectly.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- clown
- fool
- joker
- oaf
Where buffoon comes from
From Italian buffone, from buffa, a joke.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The press painted the mayor as a _____, which suited him perfectly.
- buffoon
- wiseacre
- scaramouch
Show the answer
buffoon: The press painted the mayor as a buffoon, which suited him perfectly.