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 now different for him to enter LGBTQ+ rooms where lesbians might read him as a straight man or gay men might not recognize him as trans.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 11, 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

Jadeja is a nice contrast - steady, quick, chipping away, the straight man to Ashwin's varied expressions.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2024

It's an NPR type show, and Barb is sort of the straight man in a way, although she's funny too in her own right.

From Salon • Feb. 1, 2024

I’ve nothing against Hawtrey either: a straight man, a hustler, and smart at handling a team.

From Masters of the Wheat-Lands by Bindloss, Harold