A pun, or paronomasia, is a form of word play that deliberately exploits  ambiguity between similar-A pun, or paronomasia, is a form of word play that deliberately exploits  ambiguity between similar-sounding words for humourous or rhetorical effect.sounding words for humourous or rhetorical effect.

Punning has been used by writers such as Alexander Pope, James Joyce, Vladimir Nabokov, William Punning has been used by writers such as Alexander Pope, James Joyce, Vladimir Nabokov, William Shakespeare (Shakespeare (who is estimated to have used over 3,000 puns in his playswho is estimated to have used over 3,000 puns in his plays), John Donne and Lewis Carroll. ), John Donne and Lewis Carroll.

Example: The 4Example: The 4thth word uses a pun on the word ‘punny’ standing out for word uses a pun on the word ‘punny’ standing out for funnyfunny