Funny
/ˈfʌn.i/noun
Causing amusement or laughter; also strange or unusual.
Did you know?The older sense of funny, meaning “strange” or “peculiar,” survives in expressions such as “funny business” and “funny-looking.”
Etymological Timeline
Late 17th Century
English
fun
“To cheat, hoax, or play a trick; the origin is uncertain, possibly connected with an older word meaning “to fool.””
Early 18th Century
English
fun
“Amusement, sport, or playful enjoyment.”
Mid-18th Century
English
funny
“Strange, peculiar, or difficult to explain.”
1756
English
funny
“Amusing or causing laughter.”
19th Century
English
funny
“Comical, humorous, or laughable; the dominant modern sense.”
Modern English
English
funny
“Amusing, humorous, or noticeably strange.”