banter

Noun

1. (uncountable) Sharp, good-humoured, playful, typically spontaneous conversation.
2. (uncountable) Good-humoured bits of monologue and/or conversational prompts used in any of a wide range of occupations that must frequently interact with the public (for example, store clerks, salespersons, nurses).

Verb

1. (intransitive) To engage in banter or playful conversation.
2. (intransitive) To play or do something amusing.
3. (transitive) To tease (someone) mildly.
4. (transitive) To joke about; to ridicule (a trait, habit, etc.).
5. (transitive) To delude or trick; to play a prank upon.
6. (Southern, US, Western, colloquial, transitive) To challenge to a match.
7. (UK, dialectal) To haggle; cheapen the price.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbæntə/

Etymology

1670s as verb, 1680s as noun. The origin is unknown, possibly from London street slang; ostensibly as *bant + -er (frequentative suffix). Possibly an Anglo-Gaelicism from the Irish bean (“woman”), so that "banter" means "talk of women."

Synonyms

joke

🤣

tease

jest

chaff

kid

🧒

ridicule

josh

raillery

make fun of

fun

badinage

jolly

trick

persiflage

rally

play

jeer

waggery

poke fun at

jeer at

nickname

pull one’s leg

give-and-take

mockery

taunt

sport

backchat

rib

joking

razz

refrigerate

rig

rile

roast

ruse

seductiveness

stir up

teasing

tempt

temptation

trifle

twaddle

vex

grate on

jar on

play with

play a trick

banter with

make fun of somebody

humour

Translations

badinage

🤣

badiner

necken

przekomarzać się

bromear

🤣

caçoar

takılmak

punzecchiare

schertsen

🤣

πειράζω

takılma

scherts

gekscheren

πείραγμα

αστείο