Jokingly

Jokingly is an adverb describing the manner in which something is said or done, indicating that the remark was intended as a joke and not to be taken as a factual assertion.

The term is formed from the adjective joking, which comes from joke, with the common adverbial suffix -ly. It has been in use since the early modern period to contrast with statements made seriously or earnestly, and it is recognized in standard dictionaries as signaling humor or jest.

In usage, jokingly can soften potential offense, ease interpersonal tension, or signal irony. In writing, it relies on context, punctuation, or other cues to convey tone since readers cannot hear vocal prosody. In digital communication, jokingly is often used to prevent misinterpretation or to mark a claim as not literal. Overuse or misplaced placement may confuse readers about the speaker’s intent.

Examples: I told him, jokingly, that I was quitting my job to become a professional goat herder. She asked, jokingly, if the deadline could be moved up to accommodate a dragon-themed party. The sign read, jokingly, “Closed for humor” as a lighthearted notice.

See also: joke, humor, irony, sarcasm, facetiousness. Dictionary entries for jokingly appear in major English references.