joviality
Americannoun
Synonym Usage
See mirth.
Etymology
Origin of joviality
First recorded in 1620–30; jovial + -ity; compare French jovialité
Explanation
Joviality is the characteristic of being cheerful and festive. If you're feeling a little blue, the joviality of a big family dinner might cheer you up. If you have the world's best Spanish teacher, she won't mind the joviality in the classroom on a Friday afternoon — as long as everyone is laughing and joking in Spanish! This noun evokes a sense of lightheartedness and goodwill, like the most fun and welcoming social event you can imagine. It comes from the adjective jovial, originally "pertaining to Jupiter." The cheerful implications come from astrology and the idea that people born under Jupiter's influence are jolly.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Joviality S was third, beaten by a neck.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 2, 2022
Joviality S is attempting to become only the third filly to win two jewels of the Trotting Triple Crown, which began in 1955.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 2, 2022
Joviality and waggishness may not be traits you immediately associate with the Stalinist secret police.
From Washington Post • Feb. 18, 2016
Slowly out of the stalls, she worked her way through to challenge Joviality, but was just outstayed.
From The Guardian • Jul. 30, 2012
Bred to improve from two to three, Bonfire has a half-sister, Joviality, who took the Musidora over the same course and distance at this meeting last year.
From The Guardian • May 16, 2012
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
