jovial

[ joh-vee-uhl ]

adjective

1. endowed with or characterized by a hearty, joyous humor or a spirit of good-fellowship:

   a wonderfully jovial host.

   Synonyms: mirthful, joyful, gay, convivial, jolly, merry

   Antonyms: gloomy

2. (initial capital letter) of or relating to the god Jove, or Jupiter.

jovial

/ ˈdʒəʊvɪəl /

adjective

1. having or expressing convivial humour; jolly

Derived Forms

• ˈjovially, adverb
• ˌjoviˈality, noun

Other Words From

• jovi·al·ly adverb
• jovi·al·ness noun
• un·jovi·al adjective
• un·jovi·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of jovial¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Medieval Latin joviālis “of Jupiter” (the planet, supposed to exert a happy influence), equivalent to Latin jovi- ( Jovian ) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of jovial¹

C16: from Latin joviālis of (the planet) Jupiter, considered by astrologers to foster good humour

Synonym Study

Jovial, jocose, jocular, jocund agree in referring to someone who is in a good humor. Jovial suggests a hearty, joyous humor: a jovial person. Jocose refers to that which causes laughter; it suggests someone who is playful and given to jesting: with jocose and comical airs. Jocular means humorous, facetious, mirthful, and waggish: jocular enough to keep up the spirits of all around him. Jocund, now a literary word, suggests a cheerful, light-hearted, and sprightly gaiety: glad and jocund company.

Example Sentences

The workers were nonetheless jovial and their constant banter indicated years of camaraderie.

From Voice of San Diego

He’s jovial, culturally literate and enlightened on issues of social justice.

From Time

While the layout of the restaurant is similar, the space was gutted to create “a more jovial, less corporate” ambiance in an effort to attract a new audience, says Sacco, who relied on the ideas of his significant other, designer Martha Vicas.

From Washington Post

“This is a good day,” Diaz said to Chris Canning, a jovial EMT who wore his hair pulled back into a small bun.

From ProPublica

Even though we were running late, Scott was jovial and candid in his conversation.

From The Daily Beast

With that, he took a huff off a morning joint and moved into the throng of jovial patrons.

From The Daily Beast

Of course, it shouldn't be surprising, as Fallon and Timberlake may be the two most jovial, joyous people in show business.

From The Daily Beast

[Kevin] had the idea that my character would be more jovial, and I thought he was tragic.

From The Daily Beast

In typical Biden fashion, the ever-jovial VP teased the crowd for being subdued.

From The Daily Beast

In private life, all who knew him agreed as to his sympathetic, jovial, and straightforward character.

From Project Gutenberg

In his younger days Jacob Worse had been a little wild, and was now a jovial middle-aged man, about fifty years of age.

From Project Gutenberg

And then he went off to the Convivial Cannibals, where he ate an enormous tripe supper, and was more jovial and violent than ever.

From Project Gutenberg

At times they had a word or two in private, and Macfarlane was from first to last particularly kind and jovial.

From Project Gutenberg

Old Judge Mason, accustomed to seeing Barry in time of stress, tried his best to be jovial.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• affable
• amiable
• buoyant
• cheery
• chipper
• convivial
• cordial
• festive
• good-natured
• jolly
• lighthearted
• pleasant
• sociable