jauntily

American  

[jawn-tuh-lee, jahn-] / ˈdʒɔn tə li, ˈdʒɑn- /

adverb

1. in an easy and lively manner.

   Just as she was wishing he were there, he suddenly appeared on the stairway and made his way jauntily down it.

2. in a smartly trim manner.

   With the yellow beret perched jauntily on my head, I thought I was a true fashion plate.

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Etymology

Origin of jauntily

jaunty ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

Doing something jauntily means you're filled with cheer, style, and self-confidence while you do it. If you're excited about showing off an especially fashionable outfit, you might walk jauntily down the hallway at school. If you've ever watched a dog show, you know the winner is inevitably a lively, handsome pup that trots jauntily around the ring. You could jauntily sing a little tune while you're taking out the trash or wear your hat tipped jauntily to one side of your head. This adverb implies a certain stylishness combined with good cheer. It comes from jaunty and its French root, gentil, "nice or pleasing."

Example Sentences

The final scene, in which Titus enters dressed as a chef, a cream puff of a toque jauntily placed on his head—he’s baked those unpalatable pies—retains its deranged tone.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

He could not describe himself, as Roosevelt so jauntily did, as having passed from being "Dr. New Deal" to "Dr. Win the War."

From Salon • Dec. 30, 2024

His version of a dad joke meant, I think, to jauntily suggest that I wasn’t his?

From Slate • Sep. 22, 2024

Nearby, Rhythm jauntily greets some of the show’s producers, who pause their work to pet the charming pup.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 17, 2024

He hops onto her shoulder jauntily when she lets him out of his cage.

From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman