Definition

A funny poem made up of two rhyming pairs of lines, often about a person whose name is included in the poem.

Example

The poet wrote a clever clerihew about Albert Einstein that made everyone laugh.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a clerihew?

No, what's that?

It's a fun little poem about someone, usually with a funny twist.

That sounds interesting! I’d love to try writing one.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Clerihew is a coined term from the name of the English writer Edmund Clerihew Bentley, who created this form of humorous verse. The word does not have traditional roots in Latin, Greek, or Old English, but rather originates from a proper noun, Bentley's surname, which is associated with a specific style of poetry.

Memory Tip

Think of Edmund Clerihew Bentley, the creator of this playful verse form, to remember that a clerihew is a type of humorous poem named after him.

Visually Confused Words