straight man

NOUN

comedian who sets up joke

Synonyms

STRONGEST

sidekick

WEAK

banana feed feeder foil second banana stooge straight person

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It’s the closest O’Hara gets to playing the straight man, if a straight man was a mother on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

It is very dapper for a straight man, but it couldn't be more boring for Tan France.

From Salon • Mar. 13, 2025

The two have the rapport of an experienced comedy pairing: Larry King’s straight man to Schwartz’s rambunctious troublemaker.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2024

But he has grown into his role at “Saturday Night Live,” proving to be an especially strong straight man adept at the comedy of embarrassment.

From New York Times • Apr. 28, 2024

Mr. Wrenn, who hired you fellows, is a straight man through and through.

From Around the World in Ten Days by Fraser, Chelsea Curtis