bon vivant

noun

bon vi·vant ˌbän-vē-ˈvänt

ˌbōⁿ-vē-ˈväⁿ

plural bons vivants ˌbän-vē-ˈvänt

ˌbän-vē-ˈvän(t)s

ˌbōⁿ-vē-ˈväⁿ(z)

or bon vivants ˌbän-vē-ˈvänt

ˌbän-vē-ˈvän(t)s

ˌbōⁿ-vē-ˈväⁿ(z)

Synonyms of bon vivant next

: a sociable person who has cultivated and refined tastes especially with respect to food and drink

She has become a bon vivant since moving to the city.

Did you know?

Do you consider yourself a bon vivant? If you’re not sure, perhaps a peek into the word’s origin will help. In French, the phrase literally means “good liver.” Fear not if you are among those who are underinformed about the state of their liver. The “liver” here is not the bodily organ, but one who lives; a bon vivant is one who lives well. English speakers have used bon vivant since the late 17th century to refer specifically to those who subscribe to a particular kind of good living—one that involves lots of social engagements and the enjoyment of fancy food and drink. This puts the term very much in the company of some other French words. Gourmet, gourmand, and gastronome all refer to those who love a fancy meal (though gourmand often carries the connotation of a tendency to overindulge). Bon appétit!

Examples of bon vivant in a Sentence

In addition to being a renowned travel writer, he was a bon vivant who loves to hold dinner parties and serve exquisite, elaborate meals.

Recent Examples on the Web

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Unlike the always retiring Edward, however, Oswald is a bon vivant comfortable in his own skin — a great dancer, a karaoke master, and a ladies’ man. —

Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024 Roosevelt used his bon vivant air to encourage people to speak up and share their truths with him. —

John Baldoni, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 While the Cyclades have made Condé Nast Traveler’s list of the Best Places to Go in 2024, for those en route to the islands, Athens and its bon vivant attitude await, and demand more than just a single night to be discovered. —

Anastasia Miari, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Mar. 2024 Zubkov is a free spirit and a bon vivant, and Yaffa relishes his antiauthoritarian spirit. —

Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2020 See all Example Sentences for bon vivant