halcyon

American  

[hal-see-uhn] / ˈhæl si ən /

adjective

1. calm; peaceful; tranquil.

   halcyon weather.

   Synonyms:

   well-to-do, well-off, moneyed, rich, roaring, palmy, flourishing, joyous, joyful, golden, contented, windless, temperate, stormless, pleasant, mild, balmy, unruffled, still, serene, quiet, placid, pacific

2. happy; blissful; carefree.

   halcyon days of youth.

3. prosperous; wealthy.

   halcyon times of peace.

4. of or relating to the halcyon or kingfisher.

---

noun

1. a mythical bird, usually identified with the kingfisher, said to breed about the time of the winter solstice in a nest floating on the sea, and to have the power of charming winds and waves into calmness.

2. any of various kingfishers, especially of the genus Halcyon.

3. Classical Mythology. Halcyon, Alcyone.

halcyon British  

/ ˈhælsɪən /

adjective

1. peaceful, gentle, and calm

2. happy and carefree

---

noun

1. Greek myth a fabulous bird associated with the winter solstice

2. a poetic name for the kingfisher

3. 1. a fortnight of calm weather during the winter solstice

   2. a period of peace and happiness

Etymology

Origin of halcyon

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin, from Greek halkyṓn, pseudo-etymological variant of alkyṓn “kingfisher”; replacing Middle English alceon, alicion, from Latin alcyōn, from Greek

Explanation

An old man watching his grandchildren play might look back fondly on his halcyon days, remembering the peaceful, happy time of his youth. The word halcyon comes from a story in Greek mythology about the halcyon bird, which had the power to calm the rough ocean waves every December so she could nest. Like those calm waters, halcyon has come to mean a sense of peace or tranquility. People often use the phrase halcyon days to refer idyllically to a calmer, more peaceful time in their past.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

halcyon

It was there that she met Sigurd, and Ms. Kingsolver revels in the brief, halcyon period when Livia was rapturously in love and reaching new heights of musical mastery.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

Dahlia Lithwick: If you put “American politics as usual” in some imaginary halcyon past at 1 and Watergate at 10, where’s this slush fund scandal registering for you?

From Slate ● May 26, 2026

Cook is an Alabama man, born in Mobile and raised during the halcyon era of Bear Bryant, who commanded the state for nearly three decades as the University of Alabama’s larger-than-life football coach.

From Barron's ● Apr. 20, 2026

Twelve years later, those halcyon days of Welsh rugby - in which their then coach Warren Gatland was feted - are long gone.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2025

They spend their time sailing, playing tennis, and sometimes recalling the halcyon days of crossing the moors behind packs of beagles to hunt down rabbits.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times