What does "deadpan" mean?
A style of comedic delivery in which something humorous is said or done while not exhibiting a change in emotion or facial expression.
Deadpan
/ˈdɛdpæn/ adj, adv, noun, verb
adj, adv, noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A style of comedic delivery in which something humorous is said or done while not exhibiting a change in emotion or facial expression.
- Grammar: deadpan is listed as adj, adv, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: anesthesia, autism, blank, blank fill prompt.
- Useful contrasts: emotional expression pattern, energetic performance, animate action.
- Usage evidence: "Psst! Mary! Can I borrow a sheet of notebook paper?" Tom tapped Mary's shoulder with his pencil's eraser. "Do you intend to write on it?" Mary asked Tom in a deadpan tone. "Yeah." "Then I don't want it back." Mary handed Tom a sheet of notebook paper.
How to use "deadpan"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "deadpan" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "deadpan" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "deadpan" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "deadpan" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "deadpan" is acting as adj, adv, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "anesthesia" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "deadpan", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A style of comedic delivery in which something humorous is said or done while not exhibiting a change in emotion or facial expression. uncountable
"MAREK: But really the deadpan is key. You can essentially trick people into laughing at nothing."
Verb
- 1 To express (something) in an impassive or expressionless manner.
"Kidd deadpanned it, stared glassily back at Maitland."
Adjective
- 1 Deliberately impassive or expressionless.
"a deadpan face or look"
- 2 Having such a face or look.
"The comedian remained deadpan."
Adjective
- 1 deliberately impassive in manner wordnet
Adverb
- 1 In a deadpan manner.
"A city-hired consultant from a firm called Urban Futures was booed repeatedly by the agitated homeowners as he talked deadpan, in bureaucratese, about his firm's "evidentiary record" pointing to blight in the neighborhood."
Adverb
- 1 without betraying any feeling wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
""Psst! Mary! Can I borrow a sheet of notebook paper?" Tom tapped Mary's shoulder with his pencil's eraser. "Do you intend to write on it?" Mary asked Tom in a deadpan tone. "Yeah." "Then I don't want it back." Mary handed Tom a sheet of notebook paper."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "deadpan"?
Common synonyms include: anesthesia, autism, blank, blank fill prompt, bone-dry, chill.
How do you use "deadpan" in a sentence?
"Psst! Mary! Can I borrow a sheet of notebook paper?" Tom tapped Mary's shoulder with his pencil's eraser. "Do you intend to write on it?" Mary asked Tom in a deadpan tone. "Yeah." "Then I don't want it back." Mary handed Tom a sheet of notebook paper.
How do you pronounce "deadpan"?
Pronounced /ˈdɛdpæn/.
Etymology
From dead + pan (“face”).