bonhomie
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
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.
But that sense of bonhomie is far from shared across the EU.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
Nonetheless, for how long could the president maintain the bonhomie and sense of agreement?
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
Behind the public bonhomie, however, were signs of private tensions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026
In Islamabad, Munir was at the centre of the action -- greeting both delegations on their arrival and displaying remarkable bonhomie with Vance.
From Barron's ● Apr. 12, 2026
So now, to prove he was happy, here he was, trying to sparkle with bonhomie.
From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
