jovial

[joh-vee-uhl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR jovial ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

endowed with or characterized by a hearty, joyous humor or a spirit of good-fellowship: a wonderfully jovial host.

(initial capital letter) of or relating to the god Jove, or Jupiter.

Origin of jovial

1580–90; < Medieval Latin joviālis of Jupiter (the planet, supposed to exert a happy influence), equivalent to Latin jovi- (see Jovian) + -ālis -al¹

Related formsjo·vi·al·ly, adverbjo·vi·al·ness, nounun·jo·vi·al, adjectiveun·jo·vi·al·ly, adverb

Can be confusedjocose jocular jocund jovial (see synonym study at the current entry)

Synonyms for jovial

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR jovial ON THESAURUS.COM

1. merry, jolly, convivial, gay, joyful, mirthful. Jovial, jocose, jocular, jocund agree in referring to someone who is in a good humor. Jovial suggests a hearty, joyous humor: a jovial person. Jocose refers to that which causes laughter; it suggests someone who is playful and given to jesting: with jocose and comical airs. Jocular means humorous, facetious, mirthful, and waggish: jocular enough to keep up the spirits of all around him. Jocund, now a literary word, suggests a cheerful, light-hearted, and sprightly gaiety: glad and jocund company.

Antonyms for jovial

1. gloomy.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for jovial

Contemporary Examples of jovial

Even though we were running late, Scott was jovial and candid in his conversation.
Remembering ESPN’s Sly, Cocky, and Cool Anchor Stuart Scott
Stereo Williams
January 4, 2015
With that, he took a huff off a morning joint and moved into the throng of jovial patrons.
A Report From the Misunderstood Gathering of the Juggalos
Steve Miller
July 28, 2014
Of course, it shouldn't be surprising, as Fallon and Timberlake may be the two most jovial, joyous people in show business.
Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake’s Perfect, Cameo-Filled 'Saturday Night Live'
Kevin Fallon
December 22, 2013
Dermot Mulroney and Steve Buscemi were like jovial drinking buddies as they talked in one of the hallways.
My Night at the Golden Globe Awards
Ramin Setoodeh
January 14, 2013
Plus, Eleanor Clift on Cain's jovial sexual-harassment denial.
Cain's Palestine Blunder
Dan Ephron
November 1, 2011

Historical Examples of jovial

A solitary ruffian, indeed, is moody, but a gang of ruffians are jovial.
Night and Morning, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
The Marchese, who was in a jovial mood, opened a bank for them.
Casanova's Homecoming
Arthur Schnitzler
You will be jovial, my dear Martin, and will kill the fatted calf if you please!'
Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit
Charles Dickens
Never did he seem so careless, our Scribe asserts, and so jovial and child-like in his joys.
The Book of Khalid
Ameen Rihani
"You are wrong," he said in a jovial way so as to drive all bitterness from the discussion.
Fruitfulness
Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for jovial

jovial

adjective

having or expressing convivial humour; jolly

Derived Formsjoviality or jovialness, nounjovially, adverb

Word Origin for jovial

C16: from Latin joviālis of (the planet) Jupiter, considered by astrologers to foster good humour

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

Word Origin and History for jovial

adj.

1580s, "under the influence of the planet Jupiter," from Middle French jovial (16c.), from Italian joviale, literally "pertaining to Jupiter," and directly from Latin Iovialis "of Jupiter," from Iovius (used as genitive of Iuppiter) "Jupiter," Roman god of the sky (see Jove). The meaning "good-humored, merry," is from astrological belief that those born under the sign of the planet Jupiter are of such dispositions. Related: Jovially.