genial
1 American
adjective
adjective
-
cheerful, easy-going, and warm in manner or behaviour
-
pleasantly warm, so as to give life, growth, or health
the genial sunshine
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of genial1
First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin geniālis “festive, jovial, pleasant,” equivalent to geni(us), a tutelary deity, the spirit of social enjoyment + -ālis -al 1; see genius ( def. )
Origin of genial2
1825–35; < Greek génei ( on ) chin, derivative of gén ( ys ) jaw (compare Latin gena ) + -al 1
Explanation
If you're friendly and outgoing, you're genial. You can be a genial host or a genial guest. This is mainly a word for pleasant kindness. Besides people or animals, climates and weather can be genial, which means they too are warm and sunny — good for growing things. In older literature, genial might have something to do with marriage and family, and sometimes brilliance, as in genius. Those uses are very rare nowadays, as is the sense of genial as having to do with the jaw. These days, warmth and friendliness are the main meanings.
Vocabulary lists containing genial
Fast Food Nation
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Grade 10, List 6
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"The Lady, or the Tiger?" by Frank R. Stockton
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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.
It was a huge relief to see my old building, the Alheli, still intact and its genial caretaker, Pedro, still outside chatting to elderly residents on the porch.
From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026
Across the board, the staff is genial and preternaturally accommodating.
From Slate ● Jun. 2, 2026
As the somewhat predictable plot unfolds, Ms. Brown deftly sketches the main characters: a genial Oxford don, a dog-loving manuscript expert, an elegant Austrian scholar, a pompous Princeton professor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
In “Rooster,” a genial comedy premiering Sunday on HBO, Steve Carell, comfortable as an uncomfortable person, plays Greg Russo, the author of a best-selling series of books whose hero is named Rooster.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 8, 2026
The comical little painted man looked so genial, so ready to welcome anyone, that Johnny stepped in.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
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.
