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

It's killed the convivial spirit of the 118, led Buck to consider a transfer, and stirred an existential crisis in Chim, who's suffering from a healthy dose of survivor's guilt. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 16 May 2025

Locals love hopping over to The Station Raw Bar, located in a converted service station in the heart of downtown, for live music and a convivial sports bar atmosphere. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025

The all-day Warren Street Bar and Restaurant doubles as a living room for New Yorkers seeking a convivial gathering place. —Jennifer Flowers, AFAR Media, 3 Apr. 2025

Purposely rejecting negativity on their show, longtime friends McDaniel and James instead give personal anecdotes and convivial advice on how to make lemonade with the lemons life gives. —Essence, 28 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for convivial

• trivial
• nontrivial

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