mellifluous

[ muh-lif-loo-uhs ]

adjective

1. sweetly or smoothly flowing; sweet-sounding: mellifluous tones.

   a mellifluous voice;

   mellifluous tones.

   Synonyms: harmonious, dulcet, musical, melodious

2. flowing with honey; sweetened with or as if with honey.

mellifluous

/ mɪˈlɪflʊəs /

adjective

1. (of sounds or utterances) smooth or honeyed; sweet

Derived Forms

• melˈlifluously, adverb
• melˈlifluousness, noun

Other Words From

• mel·liflu·ous·ly adverb
• mel·liflu·ous·ness noun
• unmel·liflu·ous adjective
• unmel·liflu·ous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of mellifluous¹

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 ( -ous )

Word History and Origins

Origin of mellifluous¹

C15: from Late Latin mellifluus flowing with honey, from Latin mel honey + fluere to flow

Example Sentences

In or out of uniform his motion is languid, his voice relaxed and mellifluous, his movements deliberate, confident.

From The Daily Beast

And Costas is, after all, a guy who is famous for his mellifluous commentary on balls and strikes, touchdowns and field goals.

From The Daily Beast

By the time she had taken in so much as this the mellifluous young man had perceived and addressed himself to her brother.

From Project Gutenberg

And the banks of those rivers resounded with the mellifluous strains of the male Kokilas and the notes of peacocks and cranes.

From Project Gutenberg

One is not surprised at their being addressed by such mellifluous epithets as Cushla machree, asthore, mavourneen!

From Project Gutenberg

No, no; change churlish dreams and braving trumpets to mellifluous flutes.

From Project Gutenberg

Though she had spoken quite sharply at the telephone, her voice was mellifluous when she attuned it to Gabriella.

From Project Gutenberg