bonhomie
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bonhomie
First recorded in 1795–1805; from French, equivalent to bonhomme “good-natured man” ( see boon 2, Homo) + -ie -y 3
Explanation
If you are known for your bonhomie, that's a good thing. It means that you are a cheerful friendly sort of person. Keep it up. Any French speaker will recognize that the noun bonhomie is related to bon homme — French for "good man." However, a woman can exude a spirit of bonhomie as well, as long as she is cheery and kind. If you are looking to infuse a depressing setting with bonhomie, try cracking a joke or setting your beret at a rakish angle.
Vocabulary lists containing bonhomie
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Unbroken
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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.
But that sense of bonhomie is far from shared across the EU.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
Reviewing his experience of the week, he said it was like he was "in a dream walking through the town" and the mood all week was one of joy and "bonhomie".
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
Nawaz said the US-Pakistan relationship would need such headwinds addressed to move past reliance on the possibly fleeting bonhomie of its leaders.
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
Behind the public bonhomie, however, were signs of private tensions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026
Phillips floated along contentedly in Louie’s chatty bonhomie; Louie liked Phillips’s quiet steadiness, and thought him the kindest person he’d ever met.
From "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
