Wit vs. Humor — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 22, 2023
Wit is a form of intellectual humor that involves quick thinking and clever expression, while Humor is a broader term that encompasses all things funny, including wit. Wit is sharp; humor can be gentle or broad.
Difference Between Wit and Humor
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Key Differences
Wit often requires a certain level of intelligence from the audience to be fully appreciated. Understanding the subtlety and nuances in the language is key. Humor can be more accessible and can appeal to a wider range of audiences, not always requiring intellectual engagement to the same extent.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Wit and Humor are both elements that bring laughter and enjoyment, but they serve different functions. Wit involves cleverness, rapid mental agility, and often sarcasm, used for a quick laugh or to make a poignant observation. Humor, on the other hand, is a broader term that can include slapstick, irony, satire, and indeed, wit itself.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Wit is more targeted in its approach, aiming for a quick and insightful hit of laughter or recognition. Humor can be more general, with the objective of entertaining or amusing, without necessarily having a deeper point. In this way, wit is often more cutting or incisive, while humor can be more forgiving and inclusive.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Wit tends to be more verbal and is often situational, relying on the right moment, the right audience, and the right context. Humor can be situational but can also be physical, as seen in slapstick, or visual, as seen in cartoons. Therefore, wit is more specific in its form, while humor can come in a variety of formats.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Comparison Chart
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Definitions
Wit➦
Often employs sarcasm or irony.
With a stroke of wit, he exposed the irony of the situation.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Wit➦
Intellectual humor involving quick thinking.
Her wit was the highlight of the evening.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
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Wit➦
Quickness of perception or discernment.
His wit allowed him to respond instantly to the question.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Wit➦
A mental sharpness and inventiveness.
Her wit was as sharp as a tack, never missing a beat.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Humor➦
Disposition or temperament.
His good humor made him pleasant to be around.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Wit➦
Wit is a form of intelligent humour, the ability to say or write things that are clever and usually funny. Someone witty is a person who is skilled at making clever and funny remarks.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
The quality that makes something laughable or amusing; funniness
Could not see the humor of the situation.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
The capacity for inventive thought and quick understanding; keen intelligence
She does not lack perception or native wit
He needed all his wits to figure out the way back
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
That which is intended to induce laughter or amusement
A writer skilled at crafting humor.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
A natural aptitude for using words and ideas in a quick and inventive way to create humour
His caustic wit cuts through the humbug
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
The ability to perceive, enjoy, or express what is amusing, comical, incongruous, or absurd
"Man's sense of humor seems to be in inverse proportion to the gravity of his profession" (Mary Roberts Rinehart).
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
One of the four fluids of the body, blood, phlegm, choler, and black bile, whose relative proportions were thought in ancient and medieval physiology to determine a person's disposition and general health.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
That is to say (used to be more specific about something already referred to)
The textbooks show an irritating parochialism, to wit an almost total exclusion of papers not in English
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
Often wits Practical intelligence; shrewdness or resourcefulness
Living by one's wits.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
A person's characteristic disposition or temperament
A boy of sullen humor.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
The ability to express oneself intelligently in a playful or humorous manner, often in overturning audience expectations
A writer with a scintillating wit.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
A person noted for this ability, especially in conversation
“My mother, the family wit and teaser, knew better than to joke about the disaster” (Donald Hall).
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
Intelligent playfulness or humor in expression, as in speech, writing, or art
Novels known for their wit and inventiveness.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
To comply with the wishes or ideas of (another) in order to keep that person satisfied or unaware of criticism; indulge
"When she was convinced a man was giving her the eye, we humored her and agreed" (Jhumpa Lahiri).
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
Alternative spelling of humour
He was in a particularly vile humor that afternoon.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
Alternative spelling of humour
I know you don't believe my story, but humor me for a minute and imagine it to be true.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
Moisture, especially, the moisture or fluid of animal bodies, as the chyle, lymph, etc.; as, the humors of the eye, etc.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
Intellectual ability; faculty of thinking, reasoning.
Where she has gone to is beyond the wit of man to say.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
A vitiated or morbid animal fluid, such as often causes an eruption on the skin.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
The ability to think quickly; mental cleverness, especially under short time constraints.
My father had a quick wit and a steady hand.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
State of mind, whether habitual or temporary (as formerly supposed to depend on the character or combination of the fluids of the body); disposition; temper; mood; as, good humor; ill humor.
Examine how your humor is inclined,And which the ruling passion of your mind.
A prince of a pleasant humor.
I like not the humor of lying.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
Intelligence; common sense.
The opportunity was right in front of you, and you didn't even have the wit to take it!
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
Changing and uncertain states of mind; caprices; freaks; vagaries; whims.
Is my friend all perfection, all virtue and discretion? Has he not humors to be endured?
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
Humour, especially when clever or quick.
The best man's speech was hilarious, full of wit and charm.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
That quality of the imagination which gives to ideas an incongruous or fantastic turn, and tends to excite laughter or mirth by ludicrous images or representations; a playful fancy; facetiousness.
For thy sake I admitThat a Scot may have humor, I'd almost said wit.
A great deal of excellent humor was expended on the perplexities of mine host.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
A person who tells funny anecdotes or jokes; someone witty.
Your friend is quite a wit, isn't he?
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
To comply with the humor of; to adjust matters so as suit the peculiarities, caprices, or exigencies of; to adapt one's self to; to indulge by skillful adaptation; as, to humor the mind.
It is my part to invent, and the musician's to humor that invention.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
Know, be aware of constructed with of when used intransitively.
You committed terrible actions — to wit, murder and theft — and should be punished accordingly.
They are meddling in matters that men should not wit of.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
To help on by indulgence or compliant treatment; to soothe; to gratify; to please.
You humor me when I am sick.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
A message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
To know; to learn.
Brethren, we do you to wit [make you to know] of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia.
Thou wost full little what thou meanest.
We witen not what thing we prayen here.
When that the sooth in wist.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
The trait of appreciating (and being able to express) the humorous;
She didn't appreciate my humor
You can't survive in the army without a sense of humor
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
Mind; intellect; understanding; sense.
Who knew the wit of the Lord? or who was his counselor?
A prince most prudent, of an excellentAnd unmatched wit and judgment.
Will puts in practice what wit deviseth.
He wants not wit the dander to decline.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
A characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling;
Whether he praised or cursed me depended on his temper at the time
He was in a bad humor
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
A mental faculty, or power of the mind; - used in this sense chiefly in the plural, and in certain phrases; as, to lose one's wits; at one's wits' end, and the like.
I will stare him out of his wits.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
Felicitous association of objects not usually connected, so as to produce a pleasant surprise; also. the power of readily combining objects in such a manner.
The definition of wit is only this, that it is a propriety of thoughts and words; or, in other terms, thoughts and words elegantly adapted to the subject.
Wit which discovers partial likeness hidden in general diversity.
Wit lying most in the assemblage of ideas, and putting those together with quickness and variety wherein can be found any resemblance or congruity, thereby to make up pleasant pictures in the fancy.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
(Middle Ages) one of the four fluids in the body whose balance was believed to determine your emotional and physical state;
The humors are blood and phlegm and yellow and black bile
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
A person of eminent sense or knowledge; a man of genius, fancy, or humor; one distinguished for bright or amusing sayings, for repartee, and the like.
In Athens, where books and wits were ever busier than in any other part of Greece, I find but only two sorts of writings which the magistrate cared to take notice of; those either blasphemous and atheistical, or libelous.
Intemperate wits will spare neither friend nor foe.
A wit herself, Amelia weds a wit.
But my five wits nor my five senses canDissuade one foolish heart from serving thee.
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Wit➦
A message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
Fiza Rafique
Jul 27, 2021
Humor➦
A form of entertainment.
The humor in the film appealed to both kids and adults.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Wit➦
Skill in using words cleverly.
His wit made even the mundane interesting.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
FAQs
What is Wit?
Wit is intellectual humor that involves quick thinking and clever expression.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Is Humor always intellectual?
No, humor can be intellectual but can also be slapstick, physical, or visual.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
What forms can Humor take?
Humor can be verbal, physical, or visual, among other forms.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Is Wit inclusive?
Wit can be exclusive, often requiring a certain level of intellect to be fully appreciated.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Is Wit a form of Humor?
Yes, wit is a subset of humor, focused on intellectual and quick-witted comedy.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Is Wit verbal?
Wit is usually verbal and often relies on the clever use of language.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Can you have Humor without Wit?
Yes, humor encompasses a wide range of amusing qualities, not limited to wit.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Is Wit always sarcastic?
No, but wit often employs elements like sarcasm or irony for effect.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Who appreciates Wit?
Wit is often best appreciated by those who enjoy intellectual and clever comedy.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
How broad is Humor?
Humor is a broad term that includes many forms of amusement and entertainment.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Is Humor situational?
Humor can be situational but is not limited to any particular setting or context.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Is Wit situational?
Wit is often situational, requiring the right moment and context for maximum effect.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Can Wit be visual?
Wit is primarily verbal, but visual elements can occasionally be used to enhance it.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Is Humor inclusive?
Humor is generally more inclusive and can appeal to a wide range of audiences.
Fiza Rafique
Sep 22, 2023
Author Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content editor 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.
