felicity

noun

fe·​lic·​i·​ty fi-ˈli-sə-tē 

plural felicities

1

a

: the quality or state of being happy

especially : great happiness

marital felicity

b

: an instance of happiness

2

: something that causes happiness

… the small felicities and absurdities of real life manage to peek through the gloom.

—A. O. Scott

3

: a pleasing manner or quality especially in art or language

a felicity with words

The curve of her mouth gives her a Mona Lisa smile, but that's just a felicity of her anatomy.

—Diane Ackerman

4

: an apt expression

The poet was well known for his felicities.

Synonyms

• joy
• happiness
• bliss
• blissfulness

Examples of felicity in a Sentence

I've always admired his felicity with words.

told his friends that marriage had brought him a felicity that he had never known before

Recent Examples on the Web

However, Juneteenth maintains a resolve to protect Black families, freedom, and felicity. —Danielle Broadway, Parents, 18 June 2025

So: Is any of this so very different from the absurd, grab-bag felicity of director King's Paddington 2, where we were enchanted watching a teddy bear sing and dance in prison? —Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 15 Dec. 2023

However, Juneteenth maintains a resolve to protect Black family, freedom, and felicity. —Danielle Broadway, Parents, 18 Nov. 2023

Again, studying the felicity conditions is what is needed. —Kai Von Fintel, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English felicite, from Anglo-French felicité, from Latin felicitat-, felicitas, from felic-, felix fruitful, happy — more at feminine

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for felicity

• basicity
• chronicity
• complicity
• cyclicity
• duplicity
• ethnicity
• facticity
• helicity
• plasticity
• publicity
• rusticity
• simplicity

Kids Definition

felicity

noun

fe·​lic·​i·​ty fi-ˈlis-ət-ē 

plural felicities

1

: great happiness : bliss

2

: something that causes happiness

3

: a pleasing manner or quality especially in art or language

a felicity with words

4

: a suitable expression