Copacetic
adj.calm, joyfulplayful
What it means
Entirely satisfactory or in good order.
Reach for it when giving informal reassurance that a situation is proceeding acceptably
After the wiring check, everything in the studio was copacetic.
Choose between these
5- playful
hunky-dory
deliberately jaunty reassurance fits the audience
not when Hunky-dory is comic, dated, and insensitive when real concerns remain.
- everyday
all right
simple informal acceptance is enough
not when All right is ambiguous between safe, adequate, unharmed, and agreed.
- everyday
brief conversational reassurance suits the moment
not when Fine can conceal reluctance or mean merely adequate.
- professional
the result meets the required standard
not when Satisfactory often lands as faint praise rather than cheerful reassurance.
- formal
in order
arrangements or records have been checked and found correct
not when In order sounds procedural and lacks copacetic's relaxed optimism.
Said against
3- wrong
- troubled
- unsatisfactory
It naturally appears in
3- everything copacetic
With the permits signed and cables tested, everything was copacetic.
- seem copacetic
The numbers may seem copacetic until returns are included.
- copacetic relationship
Their copacetic relationship depended on clear boundaries.
Usage notes
Copacetic is informal, chiefly North American, and can sound glib if the situation has not actually been checked.