gaiety

or gay·e·ty

[ gey-i-tee ]

noun

, plural gai·e·ties.

1. the state of being joyous, vivacious, or cheerful.

   Synonyms: cheerfulness, sportiveness, liveliness, joyousness, joviality, vivacity, hilarity, jollity, glee, mirth, merriment

   Antonyms: sadness

2. Often gaieties. merrymaking or festivity:

   the gaieties of the New Year season.

3. showiness; finery:

   gaiety of dress.

   Synonyms: gaudiness, flashiness, glitter, brilliance

gaiety

/ ˈɡeɪətɪ /

noun

1. the state or condition of being merry, bright, or lively
2. festivity; merrymaking

Usage

See gay

Other Words From

• su·per·gai·e·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of gaiety¹

1625–35; < French gaieté, equivalent to gai gay + -té -ty ²

Example Sentences

Though a handful of chefs had tried televised cooking shows starting in the 1940s, it was Child, with her gaiety and charisma, who demonstrated the unique potential that the medium had to reach home cooks.

From Eater

The boat motored up the Nile River, a capsule of gaiety beneath a spotless February sky.

From Washington Post

"Bulgari is for me the symbol of passion and of this vivid and colorful Roman gaiety," Bruni-Sarkozy said.

From The Daily Beast

Her new joy and excitement, her gaiety and zest for life— all had been caused, not by himself, but by another.

From Project Gutenberg

Providence, interposing, made him a painter, and the gaiety of nations has been increased by the possession of some storks.

From Project Gutenberg

He hurried to the Hotel d'Ettres; but the scenes of careless gaiety he saw there, seemed only to chafe his mind.

From Project Gutenberg

Spontaneous gaiety was gone out of his cousin, whose attempts to be his normal self became forced and unsuccessful.

From Project Gutenberg

The usual excited happiness was less obvious, he thought, than usual, the mercurial gaiety wholly absent.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• good humor
• hilarity
• joie de vivre