Dictionary.com

genial

1
[ jeen-yuhl, jee-nee-uhl ]
/ ˈdʒin yəl, ˈdʒi ni əl /
See synonyms for: genial / geniality / genially / genialness 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.

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Origin of genial

1
First 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, noun

Definition for genial (2 of 2)

genial2
[ juh-nahy-uhl ]
/ dʒəˈnaɪ əl /

adjective Anatomy, Zoology.

of or relating to the chin.

Origin of genial

2
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. 2021

Words related to genial

pleasant, amiable, easygoing, upbeat, sunny, jolly, cheerful, gentle, jovial, chipper, sociable, kindly, congenial, affable, gracious, cheery, convivial, good-natured, agreeable, amicable

Example sentences from the Web for genial

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, 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)

genial2
/ (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

Medical definitions for genial

genial
[ jĭ-nī′əl ]

adj.

Of or relating to the chin.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.