no pun intended
After accidental wit
No pun intended is a disclaimer acknowledging that what you just said could be heard as a pun, while asserting the double meaning was accidental: The project really took off—no pun intended—once we hired the aerospace engineer.
Sometimes used ironically when the pun was clearly deliberate.
Occasionally shortened to NPI in casual writing.
Wordplay using double meanings
- double entendrePhrase with hidden lewdness
- homophoneIdentically pronounced, differently spelled word
- homonymWord with twin sound
- paronomasiaRhetorical use of puns
wit · quip · innuendo · ambiguity · play on words · double meaning · linguistic · cleverness
Honest, unfeigned genuineness
- earnestnessGenuine seriousness of intent
- seriousnessEarnest, weighty demeanor
- genuinenessQuality of being real
- honestyTruthfulness, sincerity
literalness · straightforwardness · candor · frankness · authenticity · clarification · caveat · preface
Humorous statement seeking laughter
- comedyWork meant to amuse
- gagMouth restraint or jest
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
- wisecrackFlippant clever remark
one-liner · punchline · amusement · funniness · drollery · levity · irony · sarcasm
Occurring by chance
- coincidentalOccurring together by luck
- inadvertentDone without intention
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
- spontaneousArising without external cause
serendipitous · fortuitous · unforeseen · unexpected · happenstance · chance · offhand · unwitting
pun
Wordplay using double meanings
- double entendrePhrase with hidden lewdness
- homophoneIdentically pronounced, differently spelled word
- homonymWord with twin sound
paronomasia · wit · quip · innuendo · ambiguity · play on words · double meaning · linguistic · cleverness · jest
sincerity
Honest, unfeigned genuineness
- earnestnessGenuine seriousness of intent
- seriousnessEarnest, weighty demeanor
- genuinenessQuality of being real
honesty · literalness · straightforwardness · candor · frankness · authenticity · clarification · caveat · preface · qualifier
joke
Humorous statement seeking laughter
wisecrack · one-liner · punchline · amusement · funniness · drollery · levity · irony · sarcasm · satire
accidental
Occurring by chance
- coincidentalOccurring together by luck
- inadvertentDone without intention
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
spontaneous · serendipitous · fortuitous · unforeseen · unexpected · happenstance · chance · offhand · unwitting
intend, intended, intending, intends, intent, intention, intentional, intentionally, unintentional