Repartee
noun /ˌrɛp.ɑːˈtiː/ — Swift, clever conversation with witty replies.
Definition
Rapid, witty conversation — particularly the exchange of clever, witty replies, each building on the last. Repartee is not monologue but dialogue: it requires a worthy opponent, an audience, and the ability to respond in real time.
Beyond the definition
Repartee is one of the most intimate forms of intelligence — it requires you to be genuinely present to another person's mind and respond to it at speed. The best repartee feels like collaboration, not combat.
Origin & history
From French 'repartie' (a sharp reply); from 'repartir' (to set off again, to reply sharply). Setting off again in response — the conversational return.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The Algonquin Round Table was legendary for repartee — a room full of people who could respond to anything with something better.
Good repartee leaves both parties wittier for the exchange; bad 'wit' is just winning at the expense of the other.
She had prepared her repartee for the meeting — only to find that the meeting wasn't the kind that allowed for it.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Repartee” when the meaning fits your context: Rapid, witty conversation — particularly the exchange of clever, witty replies, each building on the last. Repartee is not monologue but dialogue: it requires a worthy opponent, an audience, and the ability to respond in real time.
Synonyms
banter, wit, badinage, verbal exchange
Antonyms
silence, monologue, slow reply
Related words
Repartee vs banter
Repartee implies swift, clever, and skillful verbal fencing. Banter is a more casual, playful, and friendly exchange of teasing remarks.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Dynamic Conversational Exchange
Friends chatting, speaking with hands, and responding with comfortable, genuine expressions in a café.
The back-and-forth flow of their conversation, where each person responds to the other in real time, illustrates the nature of repartee: a rapid, witty dialogue between worthy participants.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Repartee" mean?
Repartee is noun meaning: Swift, clever conversation with witty replies.. Rapid, witty conversation — particularly the exchange of clever, witty replies, each building on the last. Repartee is not monologue but dialogue: it requires a worthy opponent, an audience, and the ability to respond in real time.
Where does the word "Repartee" come from?
From French 'repartie' (a sharp reply); from 'repartir' (to set off again, to reply sharply). Setting off again in response — the conversational return.