English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj

zany

ZAY-nee
adj
1
Wildly comic, eccentric, or amusingly outlandish in behavior or style.
"The film is full of zany characters and slapstick chases."
"Her zany sense of humor kept the office entertained all week."

How to Use Zany

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSilly and comical in a way that's a bit over-the-top or unpredictable.

Common pairings
zany humor zany antics a zany plot zany character

Word Forms

zanier comparative, zanied past tense, zanies plural, zanies singular, zaniest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “zany” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The film is full of _____ characters and slapstick chases.

Etymology

From Italian zanni, the name of a clowning stock character in old Italian comedy, itself a form of the name Giovanni (John).

Related Words

Rhymes for zany

See all rhymes for zany →

People Also Searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial