bonhomie
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
- bonhomous adjective
Etymology
Origin of bonhomie
First recorded in 1795–1805; from French, equivalent to bonhomme “good-natured man” ( see boon 2, Homo) + -ie -y 3
Explanation
If you are known for your bonhomie, that's a good thing. It means that you are a cheerful friendly sort of person. Keep it up. Any French speaker will recognize that the noun bonhomie is related to bon homme — French for "good man." However, a woman can exude a spirit of bonhomie as well, as long as she is cheery and kind. If you are looking to infuse a depressing setting with bonhomie, try cracking a joke or setting your beret at a rakish angle.
Vocabulary lists containing bonhomie
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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.
Despite being polar opposites in character, Charles and President Donald Trump appeared to share a genuine bonhomie.
From Barron's • May 1, 2026
Behind the bonhomie, however, lies a stark reality that relations between both allies are far weaker than when Charles’s mother Elizabeth II addressed Congress in 1991.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026
All that military bonhomie didn’t produce a well-oiled effort on the field, where hits and base runners stack to create overwhelming wins.
From Salon • Mar. 18, 2026
"But I think I'd remember if you'd done something odd," reassures Archer, all chiselled good looks and friendly bonhomie.
From BBC • May 8, 2025
Don kept talking, his voice too larded in bonhomie, her dislike clawing at her throat.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
