noun
Refers to a person who acts foolishly or makes jokes to entertain others; can be used for a professional jester or a person who plays the fool in daily life.
彼はいつも道化者を演じて、みんなを笑わせる。
He always plays the fool and makes everyone laugh.
宮廷の道化者は王を楽しませた。
The court jester entertained the king.
ピエロ is a loanword from French 'pierrot' and typically refers to a circus clown with a specific costume, whereas 道化者 is a broader, more traditional term for a jester or fool.
Compound of 道化 (dōke, 'buffoonery, clowning') and 者 (mono, 'person'). The exact historical derivation of 道化 is uncertain, but it is conventionally associated with the kanji meaning 'way/method' and 'change/transform', suggesting a person who changes their behavior for entertainment.