Added 8 October 2026
banter
/ˈbæntə/ noun
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about banter at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Sharp, good-humoured, playful, typically spontaneous conversation.
- Good-humoured bits of monologue and/or conversational prompts used in any of a wide range of occupations that must frequently interact with the public (for example, store clerks, salespersons, nurses).
verb
Origin
1670s as verb, 1680s as noun. The origin is unknown, possibly from London street slang; ostensibly as *bant + -er (frequentative suffix). Possibly an Anglo-Gaelicism from the Irish bean (“woman”), so that "banter" means "talk of women."
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)