cordiality
Americannoun
plural
cordialities-
cordial quality or feeling.
- Synonyms:
- heartiness, geniality, friendliness, warmth
-
an expression of cordial feeling.
noun
Usage
What does cordiality mean? Cordiality is the quality of being cordial—friendly and polite. Cordial is used to describe people and their behavior toward others in social situations, especially when they do not know each other well. A cordial greeting is a warm and friendly one, especially one intended to make someone feel welcome. When you treat people with cordiality, you treat them with a sincere friendliness and warmth. Example: Even when I don’t like my coworkers, I try to treat them with cordiality.
Other Word Forms
- uncordiality noun
Etymology
Origin of cordiality
Explanation
Cordiality is a characteristic of being friendly and agreeable. Your habit of smiling and saying hello to everyone you pass on the street is evidence of your cordiality. People who show cordiality are polite, kind, and pleasant, but the word implies a bit of reserve: you might appreciate the cordiality among the employees at your after-school job, but your relationships with your closest friends and family are characterized by an emotion deeper than cordiality. At the root of cordiality is the Latin word cor, or "heart."
Vocabulary lists containing cordiality
The Fire Next Time
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"Old World Landowners" by Nikolai Gogol
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Persuasion
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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.
The spat caused unease in a country with a tradition of political cordiality, even between ideological foes.
From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026
But that determined cordiality crumbled when masked immigration agents and military personnel descended on the city.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 5, 2025
The new cordiality was on display on Wednesday when Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Jeffries were spotted exiting the speaker’s office while engaged in a friendly and businesslike discussion.
From Washington Times • Feb. 8, 2023
After the meeting, Chinese and U.S. officials highlighted the cordiality of proceedings in a sign it could help open the door to more communication between the two militaries.
From Reuters • Jun. 10, 2022
Ishmael had stood beside her at church while she greeted her friends and acquaintances with the sort of cordiality and genuine feeling he couldn’t muster in himself.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
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.
