kidding

This term is primarily used in informal, conversational registers to signal that a statement is not intended to be taken literally. It functions as a social lubricant to soften the impact of a surprising or provocative claim, often followed by the phrase "just kidding" to immediately resolve any tension or confusion caused by the joke.

As a noun, the word is uncountable. It refers to the general activity of teasing or joking rather than individual jokes. Consequently, it does not take a plural form and is typically used with quantifiers like "enough" or "some" rather than a count.