Joker vs. Clown — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 30, 2023
A Joker is a person who makes jokes or a playing card, while a Clown is a comedic performer, often in circuses, known for exaggerated antics.
Difference Between Joker and Clown
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A Joker can be understood in multiple contexts, but primarily, it points to someone who loves making jokes or pranks, often light-hearted in nature. On the contrary, a Clown typically refers to a professional entertainer, usually dressed in distinctive costumes, whose primary role is to make people laugh, especially in circus environments.
In playing cards, a Joker is an additional card that doesn't belong to any standard suit and is often used as a wildcard. This sense of the word doesn't have any comedic implication, unlike its other meanings. In comparison, a Clown doesn't have such diverse meanings and is mainly associated with the world of comedy and entertainment.
While both Joker and Clown can denote individuals who engage in humorous or playful activities, the intentions can differ. A Joker might engage in jesting to amuse themselves or their close circle, without any professional implication. However, a Clown usually performs to entertain a broader audience, often as a career.
The term Joker also holds cultural significance, especially in popular media. Characters like the "Joker" in Batman comics and movies represent a chaotic, unpredictable nature, far removed from mere jesting. Conversely, while Clowns have also been portrayed in diverse ways in media, from funny to creepy, their essence remains tied to performance and entertainment.
Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
A person who jokes or pranks
A comedic performer in distinctive attire
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Secondary Meaning
A wildcard in playing cards
N/A
Professional Implication
Not necessarily
Often a professional entertainer
Cultural Representation
Characters like "Joker" in Batman
Varied portrayals in media
Setting
Casual jesting or card games
Circus, events, entertainment shows
Compare with Definitions
Joker
Someone unpredictable or who doesn't take things seriously.
You can never predict the Joker of the group; he's full of surprises.
Clown
A character in entertainment with a distinctive costume and makeup.
The Clown at the birthday party created balloon animals for everyone.
Joker
A Joker is someone who enjoys making jokes or playing pranks.
Mike is always the Joker at parties, keeping everyone in splits.
Clown
A Clown is a professional comedic performer, often in circuses.
The Clown juggled and made funny faces, making all the children laugh.
Joker
Refers to an additional card in a deck that often acts as a wildcard.
She pulled the Joker from the deck, turning the game in her favor.
Clown
Represents a figure that uses physical humor to entertain.
The Clown slipped on a banana peel for comedic effect.
Joker
An individual who lightens the mood in serious situations.
Even in tense meetings, Henry is the Joker who breaks the ice.
Clown
A clown is a person who wears a unique makeup-face and flamboyant costume, performing comedy in a state of open-mindedness (by reversing folkway-norms) all while using physical comedy.
Joker
Represents a persona in popular culture, often chaotic.
The Joker in the Batman series is an iconic villain.
Clown
A comic entertainer, especially one in a circus, wearing a traditional costume and exaggerated make-up
A circus clown
Joker
A person who is fond of joking.
Clown
An unsophisticated country person; a rustic.
Joker
A playing card, typically bearing the figure of a jester, used in some games as a wild card.
Clown
Behave in a comical or playful way
Harvey clowned around pretending to be a dog
Joker
A clause unobtrusively inserted in a bill or document and affecting its operation in a way not immediately apparent.
Clown
A buffoon or jester who entertains by jokes, antics, and tricks in a circus, play, or other presentation.
Joker
One who tells or plays jokes.
Clown
One who jokes and plays tricks.
Joker
An insolent person who seeks to make a show of cleverness.
Clown
A coarse, rude, vulgar person; a boor.
Joker
(Informal) An annoying or inept person
Some joker is blocking my driveway.
Clown
A peasant; a rustic.
Joker
(Games) A playing card, usually printed with a picture of a jester, used in certain games as the highest-ranking card or as a wild card.
Clown
To behave like a buffoon or jester.
Joker
A clause that is included in a legislative bill or a contract in order to render the bill or contract inoperative or oppressive in some respect while appearing to be innocuous until the harm has been done.
Clown
To perform as a buffoon or jester.
Joker
An unforeseen but important difficulty, fact, or circumstance.
Clown
To krump, especially in clown makeup.
Joker
A deceptive means of getting the better of someone.
Clown
A slapstick performance artist often associated with a circus and usually characterized by bright, oversized clothing, a red nose, face paint, and a brightly colored wig.
Joker
A person who makes jokes.
Clown
A person who acts in a silly fashion.
He was regarded as the clown of the school, always playing pranks.
Joker
(slang) A funny person.
Clown
A stupid or badly-behaved person.
Joker
A jester.
Clown
(obsolete) A man of coarse nature and manners; an awkward fellow; an illbred person; a boor.
Joker
A playing card that features a picture of a joker (that is, a jester) and that may be used as a wild card in some card games.
Clown
(obsolete) One who works upon the soil; a rustic; a churl; a yokel.
Joker
An unspecified, vaguely disreputable person.
Some joker keeps throwing eggs at my windows.
Clown
A clownfish.
Joker
A man.
Clown
To act in a silly or playful fashion.
Joker
A clause in a contract that undermines its apparent provisions.
Clown
To ridicule.
Joker
(military) A friendly unit that acts as a suspected hostile unit in a military excercise.
Clown
A man of coarse nature and manners; an awkward fellow; an ill-bred person; a boor.
Joker
One who makes jokes or jests.
Clown
One who works upon the soil; a rustic; a churl.
The clown, the child of nature, without guile.
Joker
See Best bower, under 2d Bower.
Clown
The fool or buffoon in a play, circus, etc.
The clown shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickle o'the sere.
Joker
An extra card usually included in a deck of playing cards, having the same design as the others on the back, but on the face having a picture of a jester. It is not included in the deck used in most games, but in certain games may be included and then takes on a special value, such as the highest-valued card, or a wild card.
Clown
To act as a clown; - with it.
Beshrew me, he clowns it properly indeed.
Joker
A clause placed in a document, such as a contract or a piece of legislation, not itself appearing significant, but in a subtle way substantially changing the effect of the document.
Clown
A rude or vulgar fool
Joker
Any fact or condition which is unknown or not apparent, which reverses an apparently advantageous position; a kicker.
Clown
A person who amuses others by ridiculous behavior
Joker
A person; a fellow; a chap; - usually used in a mildly disparaging sense; as, who's the joker who left the ice cream on the table?.
Clown
Act as or like a clown
Joker
A person who enjoys telling or playing jokes
Clown
Someone who acts in a silly or exaggerated manner.
Stop being such a Clown and concentrate on the task.
Joker
A person who does something thoughtless or annoying;
Some joker is blocking the driveway
Clown
Sometimes used to refer to someone regarded as foolish.
He behaved like a Clown during the serious discussion.
Common Curiosities
Is a Joker always related to humor?
Not always. A Joker can also refer to a playing card.
Can a Joker and Clown have similar roles?
Both can be associated with humor, but their roles and contexts differ.
Is a Clown always a professional entertainer?
Typically, yes, but "clown" can also be a casual term for someone acting silly.
Do all card decks contain Jokers?
Most modern decks do, but not all card games utilize the Joker.
Is the Joker card more powerful than other cards in games?
It depends on the game. In some, the Joker acts as a wildcard, making it powerful.
Why do Clowns wear makeup and costumes?
It's a traditional part of their act, emphasizing exaggerated facial expressions and antics.
Can the term Clown be used in a derogatory sense?
Yes, calling someone a "clown" can sometimes imply they're acting foolishly.
Is a Joker always a fictional character in stories?
No, while there are fictional portrayals, "joker" can also refer to real-life jesters or pranksters.
Can the term Joker be used to describe someone unpredictable?
Yes, it can denote someone with an unpredictable nature or behavior.
Are Jokers always light-hearted in media portrayals?
No, characters like Batman's Joker are complex and often dark.
Are there schools or training for Clowns?
Yes, there are clowning schools and workshops that teach comedic performance skills.
Are all Clowns meant to be funny?
Typically, yes, but portrayals and individual acts can vary.
Is it common to fear Clowns?
Some people have "coulrophobia," a fear of clowns, often due to their exaggerated appearances or portrayals in media.
Do Clowns always have a comedic role in media?
Mostly, but there are also horror portrayals of clowns, like in Stephen King's "It."
Is the Joker exclusive to the Batman series?
While a prominent character there, the term "joker" existed before and outside the Batman context.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited 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.
