adjective

jovial

/ˈdʒoʊviəl/ · say it: JOH·vee·uhl

cheerful and good-humored

In Personality & Character

In more detail

1. (adjective) happy, cheerful, and friendly; enjoying company and having a good sense of humor

Examples

1. He had a jovial laugh and always made people feel welcome at his parties.

How to use jovial

Jovial describes a warm, outgoing cheerfulness that is typically expressed socially and often involves humor. It suggests a robust, infectious good cheer rather than quiet contentment. The word is often used for people who bring warmth and laughter to social gatherings, and it carries a slightly old-fashioned or literary tone compared to simply saying cheerful.

Common phrases

jovial mood
jovial laugh
jovial atmosphere
jovial host
jovial spirit

Synonyms

cheerful · merry · genial · good-humored · affable

Opposites

gloomy · morose · surly

Word family

joviality (noun) · jovially (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse jovial with jovian (relating to Jupiter or the planet), which is a different word entirely.

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