buffoon

UK: /bʌˈfuːn/ US: /bəˈfun/ ,(bə fo̅o̅n′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

buf•foon /bəˈfun/   n. [countable]

1. one who amuses others by jokes, pranks, etc.

buf•foon•er•y, n. 

[uncountable] "What buffoonery is this?'' he thundered.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

buf•foon  (bə fo̅o̅n′), n. 

1. a person who amuses others by tricks, jokes, odd gestures and postures, etc.
2. a person given to coarse or undignified joking.

• Italian buffone, equivalent. to buff- (expressive base; compare buffa puff of breath, buffare to puff, puff up one's checks) + -one agent suffix Latin -ō, accusative -ōnem
• French
• 1540–50; earlier buffon

buf•foon•er•y  (bə fo̅o̅′nə rē), n.  buf•foon′ish, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. jester, clown, fool.
• 2. boor.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

buffoon / bəˈfuːn/ noun

1. a person who amuses others by ridiculous or odd behaviour, jokes, etc
2. a foolish person

Etymology: 16th Century: from French bouffon, from Italian buffone, from Medieval Latin būfō, from Latin: toad

bufˈfoonery noun