Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

deadpan

/ˈdɛdpæn/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.64 in modern English

Syllables: dead-pan
IPA: /ˈdɛdpæn/

11

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Deliberately impassive or expressionless.

adj

Having such a face or look.

adv

In a deadpan manner.

noun

A style of comedic delivery in which something humorous is said or done while not exhibiting a change in emotion or facial expression.

Uncountable

verb

To express (something) in an impassive or expressionless manner.

Example Sentences

"a deadpan face or look"
"deadpan behaviour or speech"
"The comedian remained deadpan."
"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."
"MAREK: But really the deadpan is key. You can essentially trick people into laughing at nothing."
"Kidd deadpanned it, stared glassily back at Maitland."

Etymology

From dead + pan (“face”).

Usage

Uncountable

Inflected Forms

more deadpan (comparative) most deadpan (superlative) dead-pan (alternative) dead pan (alternative) deadpans (present, singular) deadpanning (participle, present) deadpanned (participle, past) deadpanned (past)

Derived Forms

deadpanner

Synonyms

poker-faced deadpan comedy deadpan humour expressionless impassive unexpressive

Rhymes With

bedpan

Questions

How do you pronounce deadpan?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈdɛdpæn/.
What does deadpan mean?: Deliberately impassive or expressionless.
Where does deadpan come from?: From dead + pan (“face”).

How to pronounce deadpan

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “deadpan”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈdɛdpæn/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “deadpan”.
Repeat and practice — Say “deadpan” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.