When you need a word to describe something (or someone) that causes or is intended to cause laughter, you might pick jocose or a synonym such as humorous, witty, facetious, or jocular. Of those terms, humorous is the most generic and can be applied to anything that provokes laughter.

Some common synonyms of jocose are facetious, humorous, jocular, and witty. While all these words mean "provoking or intended to provoke laughter," jocose is somewhat less derogatory than facetious in suggesting habitual waggishness or playfulness.

Jocose, jocular, joke — they all come from jocus. Jocose first came into English in the seventeenth century as a way to describe something that’s characterized by a playful, merry humor.

(Definition of jocose from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Something done or said in order to amuse; a joke; a witticism; a jocose or sportive remark or phrase. From Project Gutenberg He was a jocose , voluble fellow, probably glad now to hear …

In every jocose remark and offhand revelation, O’Brien captures an enigma of our species: We continuously broadcast our true selves — our deepest desires, fears and convictions — to …

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