pun

A joke using a word's different meanings or words that sound alike.

• That was a clever pun.
• His puns made everyone groan.
• The sign uses a pun to advertise the shoe shop.

How to use it: a pun on something (The title is a pun on the word spring.)

Similar words: play on words, wordplay

Common phrases: make a pun, a clever pun, no pun intended, a terrible pun

To make a joke using words with similar sounds or more than one meaning.

• He loves to pun.
• She punned on the word sole while talking about shoes.
• They kept punning until everyone groaned.

How to use it: pun on something (The comedian punned on the mayor's name.)

Similar words: play on words

Common phrases: pun on something, pun about something