Deadpan, dry humour, or dry-wit humour[1] is the deliberate display of emotional neutrality or no emotion, commonly as a form of comedic delivery to contrast with the ridiculousness or …

The meaning of DEADPAN is marked by an impassive matter-of-fact manner, style, or expression. How to use deadpan in a sentence.

The expressiveness of the performances of short excerpts of classical music was varied through asking each musician to play in a deadpan, a normal and an exaggerated manner.

DEADPAN definition: marked by or accomplished with a careful pretense of seriousness or calm detachment; impassive or expressionless. See examples of deadpan used in a sentence.

Definition of deadpan adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Factsheet What does the word deadpan mean? There are three meanings listed in OED's entry for the word deadpan. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Dec 24, 2025 · deadpan (comparative more deadpan, superlative most deadpan) Deliberately impassive or expressionless. Having such a face or look. The comedian remained deadpan. …

Deadpan dates to 1928, when pan was slang for "face." So if you seem to have a "dead face" as you say something, it means your face looks very blank — no energy or animation.

DEADPAN meaning: showing no feeling or emotion used to describe humor that is done or said in a serious way

impassive or expressionless: deadpan humor. displaying no emotional or personal involvement: a deadpan style. adv. in a deadpan manner: He spoke his lines utterly deadpan. v.i., v.t. to …