mellifluous
Americanadjective
-
sweetly or smoothly flowing; sweet-sounding: mellifluous tones.
a mellifluous voice;
mellifluous tones.
- Synonyms:
- harmonious, dulcet, musical, melodious
-
flowing with honey; sweetened with or as if with honey.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of mellifluous
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Late Latin mellifluus, equivalent to Latin melli- (stem of mel ) “honey” + -flu(ere) “to flow” + -us adjective suffix ( see -ous)
Explanation
Use the adjective mellifluous to describe something that sounds sweet and smooth, like the honeyed voice of a late-night radio DJ. You might think that the mell in mellifluous has something to do with mellow, but it actually comes from the Greek word meli, meaning "honey." The word is related to the mythological nymph Melissa, whose name means "honeybee." Melissa is said to have discovered that the smooth, sweet stuff that honeybees produce is edible. The word mellifluous combines meli with the Greek root fluere, meaning "to flow," so that something that is mellifluous sounds as if it is flowing like honey.
Vocabulary lists containing mellifluous
100 SAT Words Beginning with "M"
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Twelfth Night
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Lend Me Your Ears: Sound Words
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For centuries, French has been the measured and mellifluous language of international diplomacy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026
Known for his conversational style and a smooth, mellifluous voice, Marcus is a one-man operation, serving as his own engineer and equipment manager.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2025
Deploying his relaxed, mellifluous Southern drawl to sinister purposes, Matthew McConaughey channels Robert Mitchum in Letts’s bracing redneck noir about a trailer-park murder scheme in West Texas that goes sideways.
From New York Times • Aug. 7, 2023
Her mellifluous voice soundtracks the show; frankly, "Top Chef" is Padma's stage.
From Salon • Jun. 10, 2023
“Will your parents allow me to interview you directly?” he asked in a mellifluous voice.
From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
