Badinage Word Refers Riposte Noun Light Playful Banter

Badinage comes from the French word badiner, meaning “to jest, joke.” It refers to good-natured teasing between people.

Synonyms for badinage include banter, back-and-forth, give-and-take, raillery, and repartee. A related word is riposte, which means “a quick, witty comeback; a sharp reply in speech or action; a counterstroke.” Riposte comes from fencing, where it refers to a quick thrust following a parry of an opponent’s lunge.