clownesque

\klu.nɛsk\

/\klu.nɛsk\/ adj

The verdict

“clownesque” is an uncommon French word, ranked #88,463 in French word frequency and used as an adjective.

#88,463
frequency rank, French
10
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Relatif aux clowns.

Key facts for clownesque
PropertyValue
Headwordclownesque
LanguageFrench
Part of speechAdjective
IPA\klu.nɛsk\
Letters10
Frequency rank#88,463
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “clownesque” sits in French frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). clownesque lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The French entry for clownesque is 10 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as \klu.nɛsk\. Corpus data places it at rank #88,463 in overall French word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

clownesque doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Our source data has no etymology on file for this entry, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct French form is clownesque, spelled C-L-O-W-N-E-S-Q-U-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Relatif aux clowns.
  2. 2
    Qui rappelle la drôlerie des clowns, leurs grimaces ou leurs maladresses.
  3. 3
    Dont le ridicule fait penser aux clowns.

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 French corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "clownesque"?
"clownesque" is spelled C-L-O-W-N-E-S-Q-U-E. The IPA pronunciation is \klu.nɛsk\.
What does "clownesque" mean?
As an adjective, "clownesque" means: Relatif aux clowns.
How do you pronounce "clownesque"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "clownesque" is \klu.nɛsk\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "clownesque" come from?
"clownesque" is a French word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “clownesque”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct French spelling is C-L-O-W-N-E-S-Q-U-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as \klu.nɛsk\ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more French words and confusable pairs in the same reference. French words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list