Banter is playful, friendly teasing between people who like each other. When friends exchange banter, they joke around and poke fun at each other, but nobody's trying to hurt anyone's feelings. You might banter with your sister about her messy room, and she might fire back about your terrible singing voice, and you both laugh because you know it's all in good fun.

The key to banter is that both people are enjoying it. Real banter feels light and fun, like a verbal tennis match where everyone's having a good time. It's different from bullying or mean teasing because everyone involved knows the jokes aren't serious, and nobody feels bad afterward. If someone looks hurt or uncomfortable, it isn't banter anymore.

Good banter requires knowing your audience. What's funny between best friends might not work with someone you just met. People who are skilled at banter can read the room and know when to joke and when to hold back. Teachers and students might exchange some light banter about a tough homework assignment, or teammates might banter in the locker room after practice. The best banter leaves everyone smiling, feeling closer to each other than they did before.