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) 

: 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!

Synonyms

• epicure
• epicurean
• gastronome
• gastronomist
• gourmand
• gourmet

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

An infallible dealmaker, resourceful problem-solver and filmmaker-friendly bon vivant, Tarak Ben Ammar has played a pivotal, yet often behind-the-scenes role, in building cultural and cinematic bridges between Europe, the U.S. and the Arab world in last 50 years. —Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 6 May 2025

Doumani moved to the Napa Valley in the late 1960s, founded three wineries, sold two of them, and lived the life of a bon vivant and raconteur that amounts to a fading breed in the Valley. —Patrick Comiskey, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025

Framed by three grand avenues—Montaigne, Champs-Élysées and George V—the Golden Triangle is where haute couture was born, where artists and bon vivants once held court and where travelers still come to get a taste of classic Paris. —Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025

Bygone bon vivants like writers James Joyce and Gertrude Stein and art collectors like Peggy Guggenheim are a few culture-shaping figures that come to mind. —Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, good liver

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bon vivant

• grievant

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