joie de vivre

noun

joie de vi·​vre ˌzhwä-də-ˈvēvrᵊ 

: keen or buoyant enjoyment of life

He radiates a vitalizing energy, the zest and gaiety of an inexhaustible joie de vivre.

—Robert Kuttner

Examples of joie de vivre in a Sentence

She is admired for her energy and joie de vivre.

Recent Examples on the Web

Rich reds, cheery yellows, and fresh greens appeared on many of our favorite spring runways, lending everything a sporty, high-energy joie de vivre. —Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026

There is also a distinct joie de vivre embedded in the brand’s DNA. —Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2026

My teenage son had also newly arrived into a joie de vivre given to him by the sun and the Mediterranean, a sense of adventure, or maybe just getting out of New York. —Nicole Krauss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026

Despite Gerry managing to score a bottle of whiskey somewhere, offscreen, in customs, his joie de vivre is not immediately refreshed upon arrival in Amsterdam, and neither is Stella’s. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, joy of living

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for joie de vivre

• unbeliever
• achiever
• believer
• deceiver
• perceiver
• receiver
• reliever
• retriever
• transceiver
• cleaver
• fever
• leaver