What is the Latin word for banter?

The usual Latin words for “banter” are dērīdeō, irrīsiō, cavillātiō; also lūdibrium, lūdus, iocus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“banter” in Latin

dērīdeōto laugh at, mock, make fun of, deride irrīsiōderision, mockery cavillātiōjeering, scoffing; irony in jest or in earnest; an empty, sophistical discourse; sophistry lūdibriummockery, derision; wantonness; laughing stock lūdusa school, especially a primary school; game, sport, play; public spectacle, games, stage plays/productions iocusa joke, jest; a form of amusement; pastime, sport ArnŏbĭusAn African Church father in the time of Diocletian LactantiusA masculine cognomen — famously held by

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

banter v.

ludibrio sibi habere aliquem; aliquem irridere (to laugh at): aliquem deridere (to mock): aliquem cavillari (mock in a bantering, ironical way): to banter any body with bitter irony, acerbis facetiis aliquem irridere: anybody about anything, aliquid ludibrio habere; aliquid irridere or deridere: jocari in aliquid; aliquid cavillari: per ludibrium exprobrare alicui aliquid.

banter s.

irrisio (derisus, post-Augustan; derisio is very late, Arnobius, Lactantius): cavillatio; ludibrium; ludus; jocus: to be the subject of anybody’s banter, alicui ludibrio esse.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for banter?: The usual Latin words for “banter” are dērīdeō, irrīsiō, cavillātiō; also lūdibrium, lūdus, iocus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.