cordial

[kawr-juhl, -dee-uhl]

adjective

1. courteous and gracious; friendly; warm.

   a cordial reception.

   Synonyms: genial, affectionate

2. invigorating the heart; stimulating.

3. sincere; heartfelt.

   a cordial dislike.

4. Archaic.,  of or relating to the heart.

noun

1. a strong, sweetened, aromatic alcoholic liquor; liqueur

2. a stimulating medicine.

3. anything that invigorates or exhilarates.

cordial

/ ˈkɔːdɪəl /

adjective

1. warm and friendly

   a cordial greeting

2. giving heart; stimulating

noun

1. a drink with a fruit base, usually sold in concentrated form and diluted with water before being drunk

   lime cordial

2. another word for liqueur

Other Word Forms

• cordially adverb
• cordialness noun
• precordial adjective
• quasi-cordial adjective
• supercordial adjective
• supercordialness noun
• uncordial adjective
• uncordialness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cordial¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin cordiālis, equivalent to Latin cordi- (stem of cor ) “heart” + -ālis adjective suffix; heart ( def. ), -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cordial¹

C14: from Medieval Latin cordiālis, from Latin cor heart

Example Sentences

The foreign press was, for the most part, less cordial.

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The agents’ demeanor turned “cordial,” Sánchez-Gordon suspects, only after her light-skinned father let them in.

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Along the way, the agency has walked a delicate line, seeking to maintain cordial relations with local department leaders while also trying to poach their officers.

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He chose “friendly” and “cordial” as adjectives to describe his relationship with Trout.

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Delhi had cordial relations with ousted Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, but has ties with the current interim administration are strained over India's decision to give Hasina shelter in the country.

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Related Words

• affectionate 
• amicable 
• cheerful 
• congenial 
• cozy 
• earnest 
• gracious 
• heartfelt 
• hearty 
• jovial 
• neighborly 
• polite 
• sincere 
• sympathetic 
• warm 
• warmhearted www.thesaurus.com
• welcoming www.thesaurus.com

When To Use

What does cordial mean?

Cordial means friendly and polite.It used to describe people and their behavior toward others in social situations, especially when they do not know each other well.When you treat people cordially, you treat them with a sincere friendliness and warmth. A cordial greeting is a warm and friendly one, especially one intended to make someone feel welcome.The quality of being cordial is cordiality.Cordial can also be used as a noun meaning a sweetened liquor (more commonly called a liqueur) or a kind of nonalcoholic fruit-based drink, like lime cordial. Example: My parents were always very cordial and welcoming when I brought new friends home.