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.
In Islamabad, Munir was at the centre of the action -- greeting both delegations on their arrival and displaying remarkable bonhomie with Vance.
From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026
All that military bonhomie didn’t produce a well-oiled effort on the field, where hits and base runners stack to create overwhelming wins.
From Salon • Mar. 18, 2026
At a dinner on Fifth Avenue where Churchill was the guest of honor, Mitchell, trying to maintain his usual bonhomie, stood up and offered a toast: “To my fellow former millionaires.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025
While the home fans are expected to bring a spikiness to Bethpage, Europe skipper Luke Donald and his US counterpart Keegan Bradley will deliver the bonhomie.
From BBC • Sep. 22, 2025
Don kept talking, his voice too larded in bonhomie, her dislike clawing at her throat.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
