deadpan

UK: /ˈdɛdpæn/ US: /ˈdɛdˌpæn/ ,(ded′pan′)

Inflections of 'deadpan' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

deadpans

v 3rd person singular

deadpanning

v pres p

deadpanned

v past

deadpanned

v past p

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

dead•pan /ˈdɛdˌpæn/   adj., adv., v., -panned, -pan•ning. 
adj. 

1. marked by a careful pretense of seriousness;
   straight-faced:
   deadpan humor.

adv. 

2. in a deadpan manner:
   told the joke utterly deadpan.

v. 

3. to perform in a deadpan manner: [no object]
   an actor deadpanning.
   [~ + object]
   deadpanned her lines perfectly.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dead•pan  (ded′pan′), adj., adv., v., -panned, -pan•ning, n. 
adj. 

1. marked by or accomplished with a careful pretense of seriousness or calm detachment;
   impassive or expressionless:
   deadpan humor.
2. displaying no emotional or personal involvement:
   a deadpan style.

adv. 

3. in a deadpan manner:
   He spoke his lines utterly deadpan.

v.i., v.t. 

4. to behave or perform in a deadpan manner.

n. Also, dead′ pan′. 

5. a face showing no expression.
6. Show Business a style of comedy that relies on the comedian's maintaining such a face.

• dead + pan¹ 1925–30, American.

dead′ pan′ner. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

deadpan / ˈdɛdˌpæn/ adjective , adverb

1. with a deliberately emotionless face or manner: deadpan humour