japery

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "japery" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to playful or mischievous behavior, often in a humorous context. Example: "The children engaged in japery, making everyone laugh with their silly antics."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Anyway, amid the japery, the joshing and the Latin sobriquets, Boris posited a very interesting theory.

Independent

The normalization of prison rape — like eighteenth-century japery about watching men struggle as they die on the gallows — will surely strike our descendants as chillingly sadistic, incomprehensible on the part of people who thought themselves civilized.

The New Yorker

College humor suffered a decline in currency in the nineteen-sixties and the first half of the nineteen-seventies, when campus concerns such as civil rights and the draft proved impossible to translate into the magazines' typical vernacular of antic japery.

The New Yorker

The book's best jokes come at the expense of the fiction students, but it's not all inside-baseball japery.

The New Yorker

The truly astounding aspect of the dinner was not the political japery but Obama's knowledge that, as soon as the weather in northern Pakistan cleared, his own black helicopters would ferry a crew of Navy SEALs to bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad.

The New Yorker

It's a terrible disappointment to see, when the scene winds up with Corleone's collapse, that the japery was staged solely for its dramatic outcome.

The New Yorker

In April, at a barbecue for the travelling press that the McCains hosted at their ranch in Cottonwood, guests said McCain kept herself apart from the group while her husband indulged in his usual japery with the "jerks," as he affectionately calls reporters.

The New Yorker

Beneath the cosmopolitan swagger and japery, "The Vice Guide to Everything" has the same remedial bent as most other MTV fare.

The New York Times - Arts

Jesus Christ it's long," comes the snorting reply to one of Valere's outpourings) and that its appeal falls sharply away as thesis-mongering takes over from linguistic japery.

The New York Times - Arts

There is little hint of Smith's culturally diverse background in her essays on (mostly Hollywood) movies and stars; they belong recognizably to an Anglo-American traditiof of writing about cinema that alternates between masochistic reverence and slash-and-burn japery.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Artschwager's standing in the art world became less that of a maverick and more that of a mascot, who could be counted on for such japeries as a phonograph record with only the sound of a ticking clock on one side and that of a dripping faucet on the other, which accompanied the catalogue to an exhibit of blps in the Netherlands.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "japery" to describe playful, mischievous, or humorous behavior, particularly in contexts where a lighthearted or teasing tone is appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "japery" to describe actions that are genuinely harmful or malicious. "Japery" implies a lack of serious intent, so using it in the wrong context can trivialize harmful behavior.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "japery" is as a noun. It refers to the act or practice of joking or jesting. As Ludwig AI states, it's a word used to describe playful or mischievous behavior, and the examples provided by Ludwig confirm this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "japery" functions as a noun denoting playful or mischievous joking. It's deemed grammatically correct and commonly appears in news and media, as evidenced by the Ludwig AI analysis and numerous examples. The term carries a slightly informal tone and describes actions lacking serious intent. While alternatives like "jesting" or "foolery" exist, "japery" uniquely captures the essence of lighthearted teasing. As Ludwig further clarifies, it's essential to use "japery" judiciously, avoiding contexts where genuine harm or malice is present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

jesting

A more formal and straightforward term for joking, often implying wit or cleverness.

joking

A general term for making jokes, lacking the slightly mischievous connotation of "japery".

foolery

Implies silliness or nonsensical behavior, possibly more lighthearted than "japery".

horseplay

Refers to rough or boisterous play, often involving physical activity and potential for minor harm.

pranks

Implies mischievous tricks or practical jokes, potentially causing mild annoyance or embarrassment.

mischief

Suggests playful misbehavior or naughtiness, often done in secret or without serious intent.

antics

Refers to playful or silly actions, often amusing or entertaining to others.

tomfoolery

Similar to foolery, but emphasizes silliness and lack of seriousness.

shenanigans

Implies secret or questionable activities, often involving trickery or deception.

clowning around

Suggests acting like a clown, performing silly or foolish actions to entertain others.

FAQs

How can I use "japery" in a sentence?

"Japery" can be used to describe playful or mischievous behavior. For example: "The meeting was briefly interrupted by the team's japery."

What are some alternatives to the word "japery"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "jesting", "foolery", or "mischief".

Is "japery" a formal or informal word?

"Japery" leans towards the informal side but can be used in neutral contexts. More formal alternatives might be "jesting" or describing the specific behavior directly.

What is the difference between "japery" and "pranks"?

"Japery" is a broader term encompassing playful joking, while "pranks" specifically refers to mischievous tricks. "Japery" might involve wit or banter, whereas "pranks" typically involve practical jokes.