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I've always thought that an anecdote was a short funny story that had actually never happened, but was rather created by common people in order to satirize, ridicule or to laugh at someone. But recently I noticed that native English speakers usually call it simply "joke". For example "Let me tell you a joke. One day a French, an American and an Italian meet at one restaurant..." If it's really the case, then what is an anecdote then? Would the word "anecdote" mean something else or, perhaps, something more specific for native English speakers? How often they use this word?

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Anecdote is a very common false friend for native speakers of Russian (and other Slavic languages, I believe). In Russian, анекдот means exactly what you describe: "a short fictitious funny story, a joke". In English, it does not. Here's the Merriam-Webster definition:

a usually short narrative of an interesting, amusing, or biographical incident

And here's what Wiktionary has to say:

  1. A short account of an incident, often humorous.
  2. An account which supports an argument, but which is not supported by scientific or statistical analysis.
  3. A previously untold secret account of an incident
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    Thank You for this input. "In Russian, анекдот means exactly what you describe: "a short fictitious funny story, a joke" - as far as I know, Russian word for anecdote also means a true, yet an unusual story: "What an anecdote happened to us yesterday!!!" - a common phrase in Russian.
    – brilliant
    Commented Nov 28, 2010 at 7:47
  • In Russia, you don't tell joke, joke tells you!
    – Michael Brown
    Commented Jan 27, 2011 at 22:57
  • @brilliant in this phrase "анекдот" is figurative — some event was so unusual and funny that it is more expected to be found in "анекдот", but not IRL
    – yalov
    Commented Jun 2, 2021 at 15:50
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An anecdote is a short story that actually happened, traditionally (but not necessarily) one that happened to the speaker.

On the other hand, a joke is an amusing story1, traditionally (but not necessarily) one that is made up.

Quick chart:

            Humourous   | Not Humorous
Real     | Either word2 |   Anecdote
Made Up  |    Joke      |   Fiction

1 Since you mentioned satire and ridicule, that would typically be a joke, but a joke may simply be funny without being satirical or ridiculous.

2 Typically, though, this would be an anecdote.

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    As far as I know, a story that actually happened is never a joke, even if humorous; it's just a funny story. Unless it's a practical joke, but that's something else altogether.
    – user1635
    Commented Nov 28, 2010 at 6:24
  • @Rahul Thinking it through, I think while "joke" wouldn't be wrong, "anecdote" is definitely the better word. I've edited to reflect that.
    – waiwai933
    Commented Nov 28, 2010 at 6:27
  • WOW!!! Waiwai933, thank You so much for this chart!!!
    – brilliant
    Commented Nov 28, 2010 at 6:34
  • I think it's important to emphasize that in English, an anecdote need not be funny or even amusing (e.g. anecdotal evidence).
    – Marthaª
    Commented Nov 28, 2010 at 7:54

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