cordial

American  

[kawr-juhl, -dee-uhl] / ˈkɔr dʒəl, -di əl /

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 British  

/ 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

Usage

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. 

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of cordial

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

Explanation

Use cordial to describe a relationship that is friendly and sincere but not overly close. A cordial greeting is perfectly pleasant but doesn't involve lots of hugging or excessive emotion. You might have cordial relationships with most of the kids in your close, but only confide in your closest friends. In Middle English, this adjective meant "of the heart," borrowed from medieval Latin cordiālis, from Latin cor, "heart." This core sense of "heart" can be seen in the synonyms heartfelt and hearty. The noun cordial originally referred to a medicine or drink that stimulates the heart, but its current sense is "a liqueur."

Example Sentences

I actually met Wilder once in Dubai and he was great - cordial, high energy, a really nice guy - but as a fighter, of late, there is a question mark.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Monsanto—about a 186-mile drive northeast of Lisbon—is Portugal at its most primal and pagan, yet with postcards and cordial citizenry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

The cordial conversation Monday lasted about eight minutes, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told journalists Wednesday during her regular morning news conference.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

For Hussain, the "cordial relationship" between Pakistan and Bangladesh has made a big difference for Pakistani Bengalis.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

When they arrived at the house, Mrs. Clarke had to sit down and drink a glass of blackberry cordial to settle her nerves, so young Margaret was instructed to deliver the message to Lady Constance.

From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

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