esprit
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of esprit
1585–95; < French < Latin spīritus spirit
Explanation
Someone with esprit is full of life, joy, and vigor. Your esprit might make you a lively camp counselor or an enthusiastic teacher. The quality of being vivacious and alive, smart and witty, can be summed up in the word esprit. Esprit isn't something everyone has, but people who do are positive and fun to be around. It's a French word that's been used in English since the 16th century, literally meaning "spirit," "soul," or "mind," from the Latin root spiritus, "spirit."
Vocabulary lists containing esprit
The Picture of Dorian Gray
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Christopher Mouse
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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.
Steve Jobs’s pirate flag celebrated a certain rebellious esprit de corps.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026
The president told NBC News it would be an exercise in generating some "esprit de corps" - suggesting that he saw an opportunity to galvanise his troops.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2025
“Similarly, regarding workplace relationships I am proud of the professionalism, dedication and esprit de corp displayed in the workplace.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2023
And despite all the rule changes, precautions and equipment improvements meant to decrease brain damage, players are bigger and stronger and seem to play with a greater esprit de martyrdom than ever before.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 7, 2022
“You can tell this isn’t a Marine base. There's no spirit here. No esprit de corps.”
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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.
