A pun can be homophonic (exploiting similar sounds: 'time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana') or homographic (exploiting a word with multiple meanings). In rhetoric, a pun is called paronomasia. Audiences often respond to puns with a groan as well as a laugh.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| That's a pun — why did the chicken cross the road? | That's a joke, not a pun. A pun requires wordplay on multiple meanings or similar sounds. |
| double entendre = pun | A double entendre is a type of wordplay with a suggestive second meaning, not all puns are double entendres. |
The verb pun is less common than the noun. It typically appears in contexts describing someone's habitual or prolific use of wordplay: 'he punned constantly', 'she punned her way through the speech'.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She pun-ned her way through the evening. | She punned her way through the evening. |
| He puns on words constantly. | He puns constantly. ('on words' is redundant — punning is inherently about words) |
A pun exploits multiple meanings or similar sounds of words for comic or rhetorical effect. The rhetorical term is paronomasia. As a verb ('to pun'), past tense and participle double the n: punned, punning.
Pun is often used loosely for any joke, but technically requires wordplay. Do not confuse with double entendre (which specifically implies a suggestive meaning) or with any general witticism. The verb past tense is punned (double n).
First recorded in English around 1662; origin uncertain and disputed. Possible sources include Italian puntiglio ('fine point, quibble') or an English dialectal word. Samuel Johnson speculated a connection to Latin pungo ('to prick'). The OED marks it as 'of obscure origin'. The verb 'to pun' appeared around the same time as the noun.
What is a pun?
A pun is a form of wordplay that exploits two or more meanings of a word, or the similarity in sound between two different words, to produce a humorous or rhetorical effect. For example: 'I used to be a banker, but I lost interest.'
What is the difference between a pun and a double entendre?
A double entendre is a specific type of pun or wordplay where one of the two meanings is suggestive or risqué. Not all puns are double entendres — a pun can involve any two meanings, innocent or otherwise.
What is the rhetorical term for a pun?
The rhetorical and literary term for a pun is paronomasia — a figure of speech that involves a play on words. The term is used in classical rhetoric and literary analysis.
Why do people groan at puns?
The 'pun groan' is a cultural reflex to wordplay that is obvious, laboured, or groan-inducing — sometimes called a 'dad joke'. The groan acknowledges the pun was noticed while mildly disapproving of its silliness. In practice, groan-worthy puns often produce laughter too.
Where does the word pun come from?
The origin is uncertain. First recorded in English around 1662, it may derive from Italian puntiglio (a fine point, quibble) or an English dialectal word. Samuel Johnson proposed a link to Latin pungo (to prick), but this is speculative. The OED marks it as 'of obscure origin'.