genial
1 Americanadjective
adjective
-
cheerful, easy-going, and warm in manner or behaviour
-
pleasantly warm, so as to give life, growth, or health
the genial sunshine
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of genial1
First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin geniālis “festive, jovial, pleasant,” equivalent to geni(us), a tutelary deity, the spirit of social enjoyment + -ālis -al 1; see genius ( def. )
Origin of genial2
1825–35; < Greek génei ( on ) chin, derivative of gén ( ys ) jaw (compare Latin gena ) + -al 1
Explanation
If you're friendly and outgoing, you're genial. You can be a genial host or a genial guest. This is mainly a word for pleasant kindness. Besides people or animals, climates and weather can be genial, which means they too are warm and sunny — good for growing things. In older literature, genial might have something to do with marriage and family, and sometimes brilliance, as in genius. Those uses are very rare nowadays, as is the sense of genial as having to do with the jaw. These days, warmth and friendliness are the main meanings.
Vocabulary lists containing genial
Fast Food Nation
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Grade 10, List 6
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Lady, or the Tiger?" by Frank R. Stockton
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Genial comic Drew Carey was tapped Monday to replace silver-haired legend Bob Barker on the CBS daytime game show “The Price Is Right.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 20, 2023
The Quaest poll, commissioned by Banco Genial, interviewed 2,000 people between May 5 and May 8 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
From Reuters • May 11, 2022
Genial and witty, the thirty-year-old Whitehorn was married to a woman who was part white, part Cheyenne.
From The New Yorker • Mar. 1, 2017
Two years later, he played the menacing criminal mastermind, "Genial" Harry Grout, in the BBC sitcom Porridge.
From BBC • Dec. 6, 2016
Genial as ever, Captain Smith appeared, his ruddy face wearing an expression of benign wonderment at the unusual summons.
From The Log of a Sea-Waif Being Recollections of the First Four Years of My Sea Life by Bullen, Frank T.
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.
