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

Recipes for everything from ceviche mixto with popcorn (!) to flan to sweet plantains are sure to delight, and the book’s chatty, convivial tone is likely to linger in your mind long after the meal has been consumed and the dreaded dinner dishes are done. —Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 7 June 2025

The cafe mission of being a welcoming spot comes from the convivial atmosphere of a Parisian café, the fair trade coffee is their idea. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 31 May 2025

The atmosphere is far from tense, a convivial evening among friends who are curious about their former head coach’s fortunes. —Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 22 May 2025

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

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