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

Famous for that was the cordial and convivial nature of the relationship between Republican President Ronald Reagan and Democrat Speaker of the House Thomas P. ‘Tip’ O’Neill. —Eli Amdur, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025

The view at Downing Street following the prime minister’s convivial meeting with Trump is that the U.K. could be the bridge between the U.S. and Europe amid a deteriorating relationship between the European Union and the White House. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 28 Feb. 2025

Smith’s flow is no longer conversational, liquidy and silver-tongued; his lyrics are no longer convivial or directed straight to the heart and head. —A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025

Despite the stress and uncertainty, the atmosphere among stranded passengers was convivial, according to Billie. —Francesca Street, CNN, 21 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