Is "it is a fun game" correct?

Question

"It is a lot of fun," sounds correct, but not, "it is a fun game."
Isn't fun a noun? Then why is it used as an adjective?
I have heard this usage even by literary giants, so this cannot be a common mistake.
Should "funny" be used in stead?

EDIT Moral of the story: Fun has become an adjective colloquially, hence it is impossible to see it as wrong.

Related: Is "funnest" a word? – RegDwigнt Apr 25 '11 at 12:25 — RegDwigнt, Apr 25 '11 at 12:25

score 14 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 25 '11 at 02:29

14

Fun is both a noun and an adjective.

"It is a fun game" is correct English.

answered Apr 25 '11 at 02:29

Kosmonaut

50,402

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Additionally, "funny" means "humorous". "It is a funny game" means the game makes people laugh. "Fun" just means "enjoyable" or "pleasant". – Bacon Bits Apr 25 '11 at 02:38
What is the noun for funny-ness, by the way? – Louis Rhys Apr 25 '11 at 02:39
@Louis Rhys that would be "humor," I believe. – xdumaine Apr 25 '11 at 02:57
As Kosmonaut says, fun can function as both a noun and an adjective. But also note that a noun can be used in this position (as in ball games, war games and so on). – psmears Apr 25 '11 at 08:28
@psmears: Yes, although the stress would be different. – Kosmonaut Apr 25 '11 at 12:29
The link you gave has it as adjective, but marks as informal. – CMR Apr 25 '11 at 15:34
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@CMR: Informal doesn't mean non-standard or wrong. – Mr. Shiny and New 安宇 Apr 25 '11 at 16:50
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@Louis: funniness, meaning either humor or the quality of being humorous, is already a word, at least in American English. There may be a difference between American and British English here. – Peter Shor Apr 25 '11 at 17:45

Is "it is a fun game" correct?

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