howler
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A painfully obvious mistake.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Given what we know about cognitive psychology, utility maximization is a ludicrous concept; equilibrium pretty foolish outside of financial markets; perfect competition a howler for most industries.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A hilarious joke.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “howler” mean?
A painfully obvious mistake.
Is “howler” formal or informal?
howler is generally slang.