# banter

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbæntə/ · frequency rank #15,344

## Definitions
1. Sharp, good-humoured, playful, typically spontaneous conversation.
2. Good-humoured bits of monologue and/or conversational prompts used in any of a wide range of occupations that must frequently interact with the public (for example, store clerks, salespersons, nurses).

## Etymology
1670s as verb, 1680s as noun. The origin is unknown, possibly from London street slang; ostensibly as *bant + -er (frequentative suffix). Possibly an Anglo-Gaelicism from the Irish bean (“woman”), so that "banter" means "talk of women."

## Easily confused with
- **bate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-bate)
- **bates** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-bates)
- **Bauer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-bauer)
- **Bayer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-bayer)
- **boner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-boner)
- **Bantu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-bantu)
- **biter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-biter)
- **better** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-better)
- **butter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-butter)
- **bitter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-bitter)
- **barber** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-barber)
- **bunker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-bunker)
- **barker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-barker)
- **batter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-batter)
- **Baxter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-baxter)
- **buster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-buster)
- **bender** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-bender)
- **binder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-binder)
- **batted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-batted)
- **beater** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banter-vs-beater)

## Common misspellings (9)
`abnter`, `banetr`, `bannter`, `banterr`, `bantre`, `bantter`, `batner`, `bbanter`, `bnater`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/banter