1
2
: a playing card added to a pack as a wild card or as the highest-ranking card
3
a(1)
: an ambiguous or apparently immaterial clause inserted in a legislative bill to make it inoperative or uncertain in some respect
(2)
: an unsuspected, misleading, or misunderstood clause, phrase, or word in a document that nullifies or greatly alters it
b
: something (such as an expedient or stratagem) held in reserve to gain an end or escape from a predicament
c
: an unsuspected or not readily apparent fact, factor, or condition that thwarts or nullifies a seeming advantage
Synonyms
Examples of joker in a Sentence
Jokers are wild in this game.
I can't believe I let that joker beat me.
Some joker hit our car.
Recent Examples on the Web
While plenty of jokers and pranksters offered responses, most users responded by unexpectedly trauma-dumping on the ticklish Muppet.
—
David Matthews, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2024
The likely scenario: Some practical joker left a message for a friend as, say, Mr. Wolf, then provided the zoo’s digits as the callback number.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Samuels’ first impression of Schneider was a joker who wanted things done his way.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2024
There are 150 different jokers to collect, some of which are brilliantly devised.
—Barry Collins, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for joker 
David Matthews, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2024
The likely scenario: Some practical joker left a message for a friend as, say, Mr. Wolf, then provided the zoo’s digits as the callback number.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
Samuels’ first impression of Schneider was a joker who wanted things done his way.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2024
There are 150 different jokers to collect, some of which are brilliantly devised.
—Barry Collins, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for joker
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'joker.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Joker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/joker. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
joker
noun
jok·er
ˈjō-kər 
1
: a person who jokes
2
: an extra card used in some card games
3
: a hidden or misleading part of an agreement that works to one party's disadvantage : catch
4
: human being, fellow
especially
: an obnoxious or incompetent person
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