joviality

American  

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

noun

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

---

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

See Examples For:

joviality

The musical is structured in a similar way, they said, opening with the joviality of a disco or Philippine noontime variety show, then slowly shedding that illusion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 17, 2026

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

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

Gebu’s joviality lasted for several days, and as was usual during these periods, Ranofer fared better as to food.

From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw