laughter means A surname. It carries an Arena rating of 1603, earned across 5 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, laughter ranks #1,963 of 12,799 for Most Beautiful Words, #7,969 of 12,799 for Scariest Words, #8,144 of 12,799 for Most Satisfying to Say, #10,831 of 12,799 for Funniest Words.
laughter is pronounced /ˈlɑːftə/.
Why “laughter” is a great word
The physical and vocal act signifying amusement, pleasure, or derision, a sonic convulsion that escapes the body. Its etymology flows from Middle English *laughter*, *laghter*, from Old English *hleahtor* ('laughter, jubilation, derision'), from Proto-Germanic **hlahtraz* ('laughter'), from Proto-Indo-European **klek-*, **kleg-* ('to shout'). Unlike a 'smile,' that silent, economical curve of the lips, or a 'giggle,' that light, captured spasm, laughter is an entire bodily weather system—audible, unruly, and total. It is the sudden, racking explosion that doubles you over, the warm, rolling thunder of shared camaraderie, and the cold, jagged staccato of a scornful crowd. This is the human animal momentarily losing control, a brief, defiant noise against the encompassing silence.
Etymology
From Middle English laughter, laghter, laȝter, from Old English hleahtor (“laughter, jubilation, derision”), from Proto-Germanic *hlahtraz (“laughter”), from Proto-Indo-European *klek-, *kleg- (“to shout”). Cognate with German Gelächter (“laughter, hilarity, merriment”), Danish and Norwegian latter (“laughter”), Icelandic hlátur (“laughter”). More at laugh.
noun
- The sound of laughing, produced by air so expelled; any similar sound.“Their loud laughter betrayed their presence.”
- A movement (usually involuntary) of the muscles of the laughing face, particularly of the lips, and of the whole body, with a peculiar expression of the eyes, indicating merriment, satisfaction or derision, and usually attended by a sonorous and interrupted expulsion of air from the lungs.“The act of laughter, which is caused by a sweet contraction of the muscles of the face, and a pleasant agitation of the vocal organs, is not merely, or totally within the jurisdiction of ourselves.”
- A reason for merriment.
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- mirth 87% match — The emotion usually following humor and accompanied by laughter.
- guffaw 86% match — A boisterous laugh.
- cachinnate 84% match — To laugh immoderately, loudly, or too often.
- irrision 83% match — The act of laughing at another; derision.
- jollity 82% match — The state of being jolly; jolliness, cheerfulness.
- jubilation 81% match — A triumphant shouting of great happiness; rejoicing, especially as celebratory outbursts; a feeling of joyous exultation.
- belaugh 80% match — To laugh about; laugh over; laugh at.
- winne 80% match — Joy; delight; pleasure.