mirth

American  

[murth] / mɜrθ /

noun

1. gaiety or jollity, especially when accompanied by laughter.

   the excitement and mirth of the holiday season.

   Antonyms:

   gloom

2. amusement or laughter.

   He was unable to conceal his mirth.

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mirth British  

/ mɜːθ /

noun

1. laughter, gaiety, or merriment

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Synonym Usage

Mirth, glee, hilarity, merriment, jollity, joviality refer to the gaiety characterizing people who are enjoying the companionship of others. Mirth suggests spontaneous amusement or gaiety, manifested briefly in laughter: uncontrolled outbursts of mirth. Glee suggests an effervescence of high spirits or exultation, often manifested in playful or ecstatic gestures; it may apply also to a malicious rejoicing over mishaps to others: glee over the failure of a rival. Hilarity implies noisy and boisterous mirth, often exceeding the limits of reason or propriety: hilarity aroused by practical jokes. Merriment suggests fun, good spirits, and good nature rather than the kind of wit and sometimes artificial funmaking that cause hilarity: The house resounded with music and sounds of merriment. Jollity and joviality may refer either to a general atmosphere of mirthful festivity or to the corresponding traits of individuals. Jollity implies an atmosphere of easy and convivial gaiety, a more hearty merriment or a less boisterous hilarity: The holiday was a time of jollity. Joviality implies a more mellow merriment generated by people who are hearty, generous, benevolent, and high-spirited: the joviality of warm-hearted friends.

Other Word Forms

• mirthfulness
  noun
• mirthlessness
  noun
• mirthful
  adjective
• mirthless
  adjective
• mirthfully
  adverb
• mirthlessly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of mirth

First recorded before 900; Middle English mirthe, Old English myrgth. See merry, -th ¹

Explanation

Mirth is a formal or literary term meaning fun and enjoyment as shown by laughter. If you and your friends stayed up all night at a sleepover laughing, you might refer to that as a night of mirth. In 1905, Edith Wharton published a novel The House of Mirth, whose title derives from Ecclesiastes: "The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth." But studies show that when human beings laugh, smile, or otherwise engage in mirthful activity, our brains release hormones that help us live longer. Mirth may be foolish, but it's good for you.

Example Sentences

At the beginning of the war, Iran’s seemingly scattered attacks on infrastructure, embassies and hotels in Gulf states were a source of mirth for some American commentators.

From Salon • Mar. 18, 2026

His calling card: He added a dose of mirth to the sober ministerings of a profession not known for its sense of humor or rhetorical skills.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Place this alongside Horace in one of his “Epistles”: “The advancing years rob us of every thing: they have taken away my mirth, my gallantry, my revelings, and play.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

The effectiveness of the new production, co-directed by Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Geoff Elliott, is the ensemble approach to the comedy, with everyone expected to contribute their fair share of mirth.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 9, 2025

The first two lines would sweep up the river to engage and destroy Jeffrey's little fleet, or "the boy's toys" as Ser Imry dubbed them, to the mirth of his lordly captains.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• hilarity
• laughter
• levity
• rejoicing