Witty means clever and amusing in the moment, able to say things that make people laugh or smile because of intelligence and quick timing. A witty person notices connections others miss and expresses them in surprisingly funny ways.

When your friend trips over nothing and you say “Nice meeting with the floor!”, that's witty: you've made a joke that's both clever and perfectly timed. When someone makes a pun that actually makes you groan and laugh at the same time, they're being witty. The best comebacks in a friendly argument are usually witty ones, where someone turns another person's own words into a joke.

Witty is different from just being funny. A pratfall or silly face might be funny, but wit requires thinking. It means being sharp and observant enough to spot the humor in a situation and quick enough to put it into words before the moment passes. Authors like Roald Dahl and P.G. Wodehouse are famous for their witty writing, full of unexpected comparisons and clever wordplay.

A wit is someone known for being witty, while witticism means a single witty remark. Being witty takes practice: you have to pay attention, think fast, and be willing to take chances with words.