joviality

American  

[joh-vee-al-i-tee] / ˌdʒoʊ viˈæl ɪ ti /

noun

1. the state or quality of being jovial; merriment; jollity.

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Synonym Usage

See mirth.

Etymology

Origin of joviality

First recorded in 1620–30; jovial + -ity; compare French jovialité

Explanation

Joviality is the characteristic of being cheerful and festive. If you're feeling a little blue, the joviality of a big family dinner might cheer you up. If you have the world's best Spanish teacher, she won't mind the joviality in the classroom on a Friday afternoon — as long as everyone is laughing and joking in Spanish! This noun evokes a sense of lightheartedness and goodwill, like the most fun and welcoming social event you can imagine. It comes from the adjective jovial, originally "pertaining to Jupiter." The cheerful implications come from astrology and the idea that people born under Jupiter's influence are jolly.

Example Sentences

Amid the banter and joviality, the message from the Red Roses was clear: they want to inspire the next generation.

From BBC • Sep. 28, 2025

“And there was kind of a pall from the joviality and it quieted down… In a sense, I hope that the players themselves took that to say, ‘You know, we do have to do something.’”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2024

One Christmas obligation is to bring tidings of comfort to those who, because they are suffering, find the obligatory joviality of the season off-putting and depressing.

From Washington Post • Dec. 23, 2022

Both Portman and Hemsworth bring a lighthearted joviality to Love and Thunder that works well in moments when the movie’s highlighting the emotional connection that first brought Thor and Jane together.

From The Verge • Jul. 5, 2022

The discovery of his daughter restored his former joviality and the pleasure of being with her was slowly leading him away from dissipation.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez