bonhomie

noun

bon·​ho·​mie ˌbä-nə-ˈmē 

ˌbō-

: good-natured easy friendliness

… exuded an aura of cheerful bonhomie.

—Alistair MacLean

bonhomous

ˈbä-nə-məs 

adjective

Did you know?

English speakers borrowed bonhomie from French, where the word was created from bonhomme, which means "good-natured man" and is itself a composite of two other French words: bon, meaning "good," and homme, meaning "man." That French compound traces to two Latin terms, bonus (meaning "good") and homo (meaning either "man" or "human being"). English speakers have warmly embraced bonhomie and its meaning, but we have also anglicized the pronunciation in a way that may make native French speakers cringe. (We hope they will be good-natured about it!)

Examples of bonhomie in a Sentence

the bonhomie of strangers singing together around a campfire

Recent Examples on the Web

Whatever bonhomie might have existed ended in 2020, the New York Times noted, as Diddy backed President Joe Biden in the election. —Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025

The spirit of bonhomie between them was palpable as some reconnected and others connected for the first time. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2025

But despite the initial bonhomie, the decision to appoint Mandelson has backfired on Starmer spectacularly. —Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025

The bonhomie is also notable considering the different approach taken elsewhere. —Alex González Ormerod, Time, 6 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French bonhomie, from bonhomme good-natured man, from bon good + homme man

First Known Use

1777, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bonhomie

• foamy
• homey
• komi
• loamy
• colostomy
• lobotomy
• naomi
• salome
• potawatomi
• tracheostomy

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!