what is humor

Humor, also spelled humour, is the tendency of experiences to provoke laughter and provide amusement. It is a quality that appeals to a sense of the ludicrous or absurdly incongruous. Humor can be conveyed by words, images, or actions, and it can take a wide range of forms, from innocent jokes to biting sarcasm and from physical gags and slapstick to a cerebral double entendre. People of all ages and cultures respond to humor, and most people are able to experience humor, be amused, smile, or laugh at something funny, such as a pun or joke, and thus are considered to have a sense of humor. The hypothetical person lacking a sense of humor would likely find the behavior to be inexplicable, strange, or even irrational. The extent to which a person finds something humorous depends on a host of variables, including geographical location, culture, maturity, level of education, intelligence, and context. Humor can be a source of entertainment and a means of coping with difficult or awkward situations.