felicitous

[fi-lis-i-tuhs]

adjective

1. well-suited for the occasion, as an action, manner, or expression; apt; appropriate.

   The chairman's felicitous anecdote set everyone at ease.

2. having a special ability for suitable manner or expression, as a person.

felicitous

/ fɪˈlɪsɪtəs /

adjective

1. well-chosen; apt

2. possessing an agreeable style

3. producing or marked by happiness

Confusables Note

See fortuitous.

Other Word Forms

• felicitously adverb
• felicitousness noun
• nonfelicitous adjective
• nonfelicitously adverb
• nonfelicitousness noun
• unfelicitous adjective
• unfelicitously adverb
• unfelicitousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of felicitous¹

First recorded in 1725–35; felicit(y) + -ous

Example Sentences

Some of Sondheim’s best jokes are swallowed up in the imbalance between singers and orchestra, a situation exacerbated by a perhaps unanticipated and more felicitous problem: the audiences’ frequent boisterous response.

From Washington Post

County leaders should not wait for the “felicitous scenario” in which market forces lead to more housing at lower prices before they address the potential strain on infrastructure, schools and tree canopy.

From Washington Post

County leaders should develop plans to address these problems in the felicitous scenario that market forces respond in earnest to the new home-building opportunities.

From Washington Post

A win for this film would be nothing less than felicitous in a post-#MeToo Hollywood.

From Salon

This winter, by some felicitous coincidence, the Wheel of Fortune has delivered two delightful books about Alison.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• apt 
• opportune 
• propitious 
• telling