genial
1[ jeen-yuhl, jee-nee-uhl ]
/ ˈdʒin yəl, ˈdʒi ni əl /
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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.
OTHER WORDS FOR genial
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Origin of genial
1First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin geniālis “festive, jovial, pleasant,” equivalent to geni(us) (a tutelary deity, the spirit of social enjoyment) + -ālis adjective suffix (see -al1)
OTHER WORDS FROM genial
gen·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, nounOther definitions for genial (2 of 2)
genial2
[ juh-nahy-uhl ]
/ dʒəˈnaɪ əl /
adjective Anatomy, Zoology.
of or relating to the chin.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use genial in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for genial (1 of 2)
genial1
/ (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 forms of genial
geniality (ˌdʒiːnɪˈælɪtɪ) or genialness, noungenially, adverbWord 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)
genial2
/ (dʒɪˈniːəl) /
adjective
anatomy of or relating to the chin
Word Origin for genial
C19: from Greek geneion, from genus jaw
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