Meaning & use
humorous or humourous
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Funny in a gentle, clever way, especially in a way that makes people smile rather than laugh loudly.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after linking verbs like be, seem, and find: a humorous story; she seemed humorous.
Patterns
- a humorous story/remark/essay
- find someone humorous
- seem humorous
He gave a humorous speech at his brother's wedding.
She has a humorous way of describing ordinary events.
The article was humorous without being unkind.
adjectivebefore a noun
Used to describe writing, films, or people that are meant to amuse an audience.
Grammar: Usually comes before a noun; the related noun is 'humor' (US) or 'humour' (UK).
Patterns
- a humorous writer
- humorous writing
- a humorous tone
The magazine is known for its humorous columns.
His humorous tone made the serious topic easier to read.
Word forms
| comparative | more humorous |
|---|---|
| superlative | most humorous |
Common combinations
- a humorous story
- She told a humorous story about her first day at work.
- a humorous remark
- He made a humorous remark to break the silence.
- a humorous tone
- The letter had a humorous tone despite the bad news.
- find something humorous
- Not everyone finds that kind of joke humorous.
Synonyms and how they differ
- funny
- More general and stronger; 'funny' can also mean strange, while 'humorous' only means amusing.
- amusing
- Similar in meaning, but 'amusing' often suggests mild entertainment rather than clever wit.
- witty
- Suggests quick, clever language; 'humorous' is broader and can describe a whole situation or person.
- comical
- Suggests something is funny because it is odd or exaggerated, not because it is cleverly written.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: humorous or humourous or humourous? humorous or humourous or humerus?
humorous or humourous vs humourous
A misspelling. The correct adjective is 'humorous' in both American and British English, even though the British noun is 'humour'.
humorous or humourous vs humerus
A bone in the upper arm; it sounds similar to 'humorous' but has a completely different meaning.
Practice
Which sentence uses the correct spelling?
Choose one answer.
'Humorous' is the standard spelling everywhere. 'Humourous' wrongly keeps the 'u' of the British noun 'humour', and the other two options misspell the middle vowel.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “humorous or humourous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.