jovial

adjective

jo·​vial ˈjō-vē-əl 

-vyəl

1

: characterized by good-humored cheerfulness and conviviality : jolly

a jovial host

a jovial welcome

spent a jovial evening together

2

Jovial : of or relating to Jove

joviality

ˌjō-vē-ˈa-lə-tē 

noun

jovially

ˈjō-vē-ə-lē 

-vyə-

adverb

Did you know?

In ancient Roman astrology, people were thought to share the personality traits of the god whose planet was rising when they were born. The largest planet was named after the chief Roman god Jupiter, also called Jove. Jove was a sky god and a bringer of light, as well as a great protector who kept heroes focused on being loyal to the gods, the state, and family. Ancient mythology is full of stories of Jupiter (Zeus in the Greek myths) behaving badly, but jovial points only to the joy and happiness of a supremely powerful god: it describes the cheerful and jolly among us. (Jovian is the adjective that describes what is simply related to Jove/Jupiter.) Jovial has historically been contrasted with saturnine, which describes those with a gloomy or surly disposition. Sad Saturn was the father of Jupiter and his siblings, and he was exiled (understandably) for swallowing them all.

Synonyms of jovial

• jolly
• merry
• festive
• cheerful

Choose the Right Synonym for jovial

merry, blithe, jocund, jovial, jolly mean showing high spirits or lightheartedness.

merry suggests cheerful, joyous, uninhibited enjoyment of frolic or festivity.

a merry group of revelers

blithe suggests carefree, innocent, or even heedless gaiety.

arrived late in his usual blithe way

jocund stresses elation and exhilaration of spirits.

singing, dancing, and jocund feasting

jovial suggests the stimulation of conviviality and good fellowship.

dinner put them in a jovial mood

jolly suggests high spirits expressed in laughing, bantering, and jesting.

our jolly host enlivened the party

Examples of jovial in a Sentence

In response, an infuriating wink: Alsana always likes to appear jovial at the very moment that her interlocutor becomes hot under the collar. —Zadie Smith, White Teeth, 2001

I felt I was slumming, in my own life. My task was to ward off the drivel … the jovial claptrap of classmates and teachers, the maddening bromides I heard at home. —Susan Sontag, New Yorker, 21 Dec. 1987

For, the people who were shovelling away on the housetops were jovial and full of glee; calling out to one another from the parapets, and now and then exchanging a facetious snowball … —Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, 1843

The audience was in a jovial mood.

He's a very jovial man.

Recent Examples on the Web

Luna squares jovial Jupiter in your 3rd House of Distractions, so brace for interruptions to your calm. —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026

While photography was strictly off limits in certain creative hubs to avoid spoiling unannounced figurines currently in development, the atmosphere on-site remained incredibly jovial. —Robert Lang, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026

Despite the more jovial tone, the source said that the French leader's position was consistent in public and private. —Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 20 Jan. 2026

But the mood wasn’t entirely jovial. —Tara Bannow, STAT, 13 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for jovial

• synovial

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Kids Definition

jovial

adjective

jo·​vi·​al

ˈjō-vē-əl

: full of or expressing good humor

joviality

ˌjō-vē-ˈal-ət-ē

noun

jovially

ˈjō-vē-ə-lē

adverb