hedonic

[hee-don-ik]

adjective

1. of, characterizing, or pertaining to pleasure.

   a hedonic thrill.

2. pertaining to hedonism or hedonics.

Other Word Forms

• hedonically adverb
• nonhedonic adjective
• nonhedonically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hedonic¹

First recorded in 1650–60; Greek hēdonikós “pleasurable,” from hēdon(ḗ) “pleasure” + -ikos -ic; sweet

Example Sentences

Psychologists differentiate between two aspects of happiness: "hedonic wellbeing," related to emotional experiences, and "eudemonic wellbeing," which concerns meaning and purpose in life.

From BBC

The study looked at how distraction affects "hedonic consumption," or buying and using products and experiences because they make us feel good and not necessarily because we need them.

From Science Daily

Neuropeptide Y is associated with “hedonic eating”—consuming food strictly to experience pleasure rather than to satisfy hunger.

From Scientific American

Ahrens said that what I had described was hedonic happiness: happiness from pleasure.

From Washington Post

All of these folks touch on the two types of well being: hedonic and eudaimonic.

From Salon