humorous

Humorous is an adjective describing something that is funny or amusing, or a person who has a ready sense of humor. In everyday use, it can refer to material such as humorous stories, cartoons, or speeches designed to provoke laughter, as well as to individuals who regularly express humor in conversation.

Etymology: Humorous comes from Middle English humorous, from Old French humour, from Latin humor, meaning "fluid, moisture," and used in humoral theory to describe bodily fluids thought to influence temperament. By the 18th century, the sense shifted toward "full of humor" or "witty," and it now mainly denotes the quality of being amusing or funny.

Types and theories: Humor encompasses a range of styles, including wordplay, irony, satire, parody, slapstick, and witty dialogue. The study of humor is cross-disciplinary, with theories such as incongruity theory (humor arises from a mismatch between expectation and outcome), relief theory, and superiority theory. A more recent account is benign violation theory, which suggests humor occurs when a norm violation is perceived as non-threatening.

Usage and contexts: "Humorous" is used across literature, film, and media to describe content intended to amuse. Perception of what is humorous varies by culture, subculture, and individual taste, and the label can reflect intent (e.g., gentle, mocking, absurd) as well as audience norms. The term is distinct from "funny" in some contexts, though largely overlapping.