Funny means causing laughter or amusement. When something is funny, it makes you smile, chuckle, or laugh out loud. A funny joke surprises you with an unexpected twist. A funny story about your dog chasing its own tail entertains everyone at dinner. Your friend's funny faces during a boring assembly might make you struggle not to laugh.

What makes something funny varies from person to person. Physical comedy, like someone slipping on a banana peel in a cartoon, strikes some people as hilarious. Others prefer clever wordplay or puns. Sometimes things are funny because they're absurd or ridiculous, like imagining your teacher showing up to school in a superhero costume.

The word also describes something odd or strange. If your bicycle makes a funny noise, something might be wrong with it. If milk smells funny, it has probably gone bad. When someone says “that's funny” with a puzzled expression, they usually mean “that's strange” rather than “that's hilarious.”

Being funny can help people feel more relaxed and connected. A well-timed joke can turn an awkward moment into a memorable one, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone's feelings.