jovial
Americanadjective
Synonym Usage
Jovial, jocose, jocular, jocund agree in referring to someone who is in a good humor. Jovial suggests a hearty, joyous humor: a jovial person. Jocose refers to that which causes laughter; it suggests someone who is playful and given to jesting: with jocose and comical airs. Jocular means humorous, facetious, mirthful, and waggish: jocular enough to keep up the spirits of all around him. Jocund, now a literary word, suggests a cheerful, light-hearted, and sprightly gaiety: glad and jocund company.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of jovial
First recorded in 1580–90; from Medieval Latin joviālis “of Jupiter” (the planet, supposed to exert a happy influence), equivalent to Latin jovi- ( see Jovian) + -ālis -al 1
Explanation
Use jovial to describe people who show good humor and are full of joy. Santa Claus, with his constant "ho-ho-hoing" is a jovial figure. Jocose and jocular are similar words, but they refer more to things that actually cause laughter. Jovial is derived from the Late Latin Iovialis, "relating to Jupiter" — the ancient Roman god of the sky. In astrology, people born under the sign of Jupiter are said to be joyful.
Vocabulary lists containing jovial
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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Words to Capture Your Joy
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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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.
Trump, taking a jovial tone, has even joked about his Scottish-born mother having a crush on Charles.
From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026
The jovial royal believes he can persuade Jerry to change course.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026
The dictator was in a jovial mood and the two spoke for four hours, dining on black bread, potato pancakes and an array of meats.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025
The British network said Kimmel will "reflect on the past few months in a deeply personal and characteristically jovial address", following his "return to air and his much-publicised criticism of the US administration".
From BBC • Dec. 22, 2025
As soon as he entered, he went straight over to Scythe Faraday to shake his hand, and pretended to be far more jovial and inviting than he truly must have been.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
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.
