badinage

C2 Topic:Communication
US /ˌbɑdɪˈnɑʒ/ UK /ˌbædɪˈnɑːʒ/
noun Freq #130389

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    playful, lighthearted teasing or witty conversation

    Their cheerful badinage ended when the discussion turned to the missing ship.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · playful, lighthearted... banterreparteeraillerypersiflage
Opposites
Word family
Related forms jestteasingwordplay

Etymology

Borrowed from French badinage ("jesting, playful talk"), from badiner ("to joke") and badin ("playful, foolish"). The French family is probably related through Occitan to badar, "to gape."

Topics

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