contentment
Americannoun
-
the state of being contented; satisfaction; ease of mind.
-
Archaic. the act of making contentedly satisfied.
Synonym Usage
See happiness.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of contentment
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English contentement, from Middle French; see content 2 ( def. ), -ment ( def. )
Compare meaning
How does contentment compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Contentment is the state of being happy and satisfied. On Thanksgiving when you think about all you are grateful for, hopefully you feel a sense of contentment. If not, have another piece of pie and then you’ll feel contentment. Contentment isn’t an excited kind of happy, it’s more like a peaceful ease of mind. It’s being satisfied with what you have, whatever that is. You might feel a sense of contentment knowing you have a cup of hot chocolate and a good movie to look forward to tonight. Or you might experience contentment thinking about the vast estate you just purchased in the Hamptons. Whatever is going on in your life, you’re pleased about it.
Vocabulary lists containing contentment
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
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Words for the International Day of Happiness
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Excerpts from "To Kill a Mockingbird"
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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.
As her friend and collaborator Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine once pointed out: "Contentment is a creativity killer."
From BBC • Aug. 27, 2025
Contentment comes by way of a couple of grilled sausages, maybe bratwurst and knackwurst courtesy of Binkert’s in Baltimore, flanked with braised red cabbage that balances tang and sweetness.
From Washington Post • Nov. 21, 2022
Kartje: Contentment isn’t a state USC fans are all that accustomed to, but after three consecutive comfortable victories, there’s no reason they shouldn’t be perfectly pleased by what they’ve seen.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 21, 2022
Before 2018 passes through Modesto’s famous city arch and into history, here’s a look at some of the year’s events through its prism of “Water Wealth Contentment Health.”
From Washington Times • Jan. 2, 2019
“Gurrrrr grrrr,” it goes, with a description just next to it: Contentment; if a kitten and an apple pie mated, this is what it would sound and smell like.
From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle
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.
