banter
/ˈbæntɚ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.48 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Good-humoured bits of monologue and/or conversational prompts used in any of a wide range of occupations that must frequently interact with the public (for example, store clerks, salespersons, nurses).
Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "I was elected to the Executive Committee of the Vegetarian Society, and made it a point to attend every one of its meetings, but I always felt tongue-tied. Dr. Oldfield once said to me, 'You talk to me quite all right, but why is it that you never open your lips at a committee meeting? You are a drone.' I appreciated the banter. The bees are ever busy, the drone is a thorough idler."
- "This bullying continuum illustrates the progressive escalation from harmless banter to bullying and criminal behaviours."
- "Here comes the muſty trader, running over vvith remonſtrances. I muſt banter the cit."
- "Hag-ridden by my own fancy all night, and then bantered on my haggard looks the next day."
- "Mr. Sweeting was bantered about his stature, he was a little man, a mere boy in height and breadth compared with the athletic Malone, […]"
- "June 1804, William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham If they banter your regularity, order, and love of study, banter in return their neglect of them."
Etymology
Word Breakdown
- Suffix: -er
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈbæntɚ/
- British English: /ˈbæntə/
Usage
- Uncountable
- Intransitive verb
- Transitive verb
- American usage
- Colloquial
- British usage