genial

[ jeen-yuhl, jee-nee-uhl ]

/ ˈdʒin yəl, ˈdʒi ni əl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR genial ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

warmly and pleasantly cheerful; cordial: a genial disposition; a genial host.

favorable for life, growth, or comfort; pleasantly warm; comfortably mild: the genial climate of Hawaii.

characterized by genius.

Nearby words

genevieve, saint, geneviève, genf, genfersee, genghis khan, genial, genial tubercle, geniality, genially, genic, genicular

Origin of genial

1560–70; < Latin geniālis festive, jovial, pleasant, equivalent to geni(us) tutelary deity, the spirit of social enjoyment + -ālis -al¹

SYNONYMS FOR genial

1 friendly, hearty, pleasant, agreeable.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR genial ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsgen·ial·ly, adverbge·ni·al·i·ty

[jee-nee-al-i-tee] /ˌdʒi niˈæl ɪ ti/, gen·ial·ness, nouno·ver·ge·ni·al·i·ty, noun

Definition for genial (2 of 2)

genial

[ juh-nahy-uh l ]

/ dʒəˈnaɪ əl /

adjective Anatomy, Zoology.

of or relating to the chin.

Origin of genial

1825–35; < Greek génei(on) chin, derivative of gén(ys) jaw (compare Latin gena) + -al¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for genial

And finally, they meet Un (Randall Park), who appears to be nothing but genial and fun-loving—especially to Dave.
Sony’s ‘The Interview’: A Glorious, Patriotic, and Katy Perry-Filled Mess|Marlow Stern|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
All was jolly and genial between the king of late night and the pretender to the throne.
Stephen Colbert’s Groveling ‘Late Show’ Debut|Tom Shales|April 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Some wandered in a genial trance wearing the faraway, slightly shell-shocked look of the recently colonically irrigated.
My Week At An Austrian Fat Camp|Owen Matthews|October 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Hiddleston, a genial fellow, looks mighty dapper in a bespoke three-piece suit.
Tom Hiddleston On His Rocker-Vampire in ‘Only Lovers Left Alive,’ ‘Thor 2,’ and ‘Avengers 2’|Marlow Stern|September 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST

It was a culture nibbling on the genial jingoism of Norman Vincent Peale and being made somewhat uncomfortable by Adlai Stevenson.
Why Elvis Presley Never Really Died|Larry Durstin|August 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Is of a mild, genial disposition, with but little force of character.
Descriptive Catalogue of Photographs of North American Indians|W. H. Jackson
I apologised for my intrusion; but the atmosphere of the place was not genial.
The Charm of Ireland|Burton Egbert Stevenson
Wilson was such a genial, friendly soul I should have thought he would have felt the loneliness very much.
Louisa May Alcott|Louisa May Alcott
Gentle and genial, simple and warm-hearted, how full of anxiety must have been his life in the days which followed.
McClure's Magazine, Volume VI, No. 3. February 1896|Various
It was well along in the afternoon when Charley bade the genial Mr. Bowers good-by and headed his mule back for camp.
The Boy Chums in the Florida Jungle|Wilmer M. Ely

British Dictionary definitions for genial (1 of 2)

genial

/ (ˈdʒiːnjəl, -nɪəl) /

adjective

cheerful, easy-going, and warm in manner or behaviour

pleasantly warm, so as to give life, growth, or healththe genial sunshine

Derived Formsgeniality (ˌdʒiːnɪˈælɪtɪ) or genialness, noungenially, adverb

Word Origin for genial

C16: from Latin geniālis relating to birth or marriage, from genius tutelary deity; see genius

British Dictionary definitions for genial (2 of 2)

genial

/ (dʒɪˈniːəl) /

adjective

anatomy of or relating to the chin

Word Origin for genial

C19: from Greek geneion, from genus jaw

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

genial

adjective

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of genial

Definition for genial (2 of 2)

genial

adjective Anatomy, Zoology.

Origin of genial

Examples from the Web for genial

British Dictionary definitions for genial (1 of 2)

genial

adjective

Word Origin for genial

British Dictionary definitions for genial (2 of 2)

genial

adjective

Word Origin for genial

Medicine definitions for genial

genial

adj.