convivial

adjective

con·​viv·​ial kən-ˈviv-yəl 

-ˈvi-vē-əl

: relating to, occupied with, or fond of feasting, drinking, and good company

a convivial host

a convivial gathering

conviviality

kən-ˌvi-vē-ˈa-lə-tē 

noun

convivially

kən-ˈviv-yə-lē 

-ˈvi-vē-ə-lē

adverb

Did you know?

Convivial traces to "convivium," a Latin word meaning "banquet," and tends to suggest a mood of full-bellied joviality. Charles Dickens aptly captures that sense in his novel David Copperfield: "We had a beautiful little dinner. Quite an elegant dish of fish; the kidney-end of a loin of veal, roasted; fried sausage-meat; a partridge, and a pudding. There was wine, and there was strong ale.... Mr. Micawber was uncommonly convivial. I never saw him such good company. He made his face shine with the punch, so that it looked as if it had been varnished all over. He got cheerfully sentimental about the town, and proposed success to it."

Synonyms

• boon
• clubbable
• clubable
• clubby
• companionable
• extroverted
• extraverted
• gregarious
• outgoing
• sociable
• social

Examples of convivial in a Sentence

the hiking club attracts a wide range of convivial people who share a love of the outdoors

Recent Examples on the Web

Entertainment and Dining The Living Room on the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Luminara provides a daytime respite with light fare and convivial atmosphere, transforming into a lively night scene with live music and cocktails, returning to a coffee bar the next morning. —Kathleen Turner, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

Margulies and Gallagher are a convivial match, and fare best in the show’s more dramatic scenes. —Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024

But making that feel like a fun, engaging, convivial, totally not scary experience. —Bon Appétit, 16 Oct. 2024

The atmosphere is convivial, but also candid and informative, with appearances by names like Ralph Nader, Black Panther chairman Bobby Seale and comedian George Carlin. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin convivialis, from Latin convivium banquet, from com- + vivere to live — more at quick entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1668, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

convivial

adjective

con·​viv·​i·​al

kən-ˈviv-yəl,

-ˈviv-ē-əl

: of, relating to, or fond of food, drink, merrymaking, and good company

conviviality

-ˌviv-ē-ˈal-ət-ē

noun

convivially

-ˈviv-yə-lē

-ˈviv-ē-ə-lē

adverb