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.
Bonhomie between Bessent and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi couldn’t disguise the headaches that the Iran war is causing for Japan, which was importing 80% of its oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz.
From Barron's • May 14, 2026
Bonhomie, common purpose, fresh beef and all that.
From Slate • May 4, 2023
Hip-hop imports proved surprisingly easy to obtain in Usk, energising him to make the 1999 album Anomie & Bonhomie, the title of which bigs up Emile Durkheim's theory of societal normlessness.
From The Guardian • Feb. 22, 2011
From Springfield to Bonhomie, the river was smooth and straight.
From The Story of Paul Boyton Voyages on All the Great Rivers of the World by Boyton, Paul
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.
