A comedian (also comedienne, female) is a person who attempts to make people laugh through a variety of methods, normally through joke telling. However, other comedians rely on methods such as slapstick (for example, Laurel and Hardy), or prop comedy to get the desired humourous effect.

Typically, a comedian stands up and talks to the audience; hence, they are often called stand-up comedians.

Since the mid-1980s, a new wave of comedy, called alternative comedy, has been gaining popularity and delighting audiences with its offbeat style. This normally involves more experiential, or observational, reporting to get a laugh.