Jocundity
n.energetic, joyfulliterary
What it means
A state or quality of lively cheerfulness.
Reach for it when naming elevated communal merriment rather than simple contentment
The courtyard's jocundity lasted until the final lantern dimmed.
Choose between these
6- everyday
cheerfulness
positive mood is steady but not necessarily exuberant
not when Cheerfulness understates the lively communal energy.
- everyday
visible energy and happiness need plain words
not when High spirits can become unruly and lacks the elegant register.
- warm
shared laughter and celebration are plainly present
not when Merriment is more familiar and less literary than jocundity.
- professional
abundant energy is the observable quality
not when Exuberance may describe growth, color, or speech without happiness.
- formal
sociable good humor belongs to a person or gathering
not when Joviality can suggest hearty talk rather than the lighter spirit of jocundity.
- literary
bright festive pleasure suits historical prose
not when Gaiety has dated associations and may distract modern readers.
Said against
3- melancholy
- gloom
- dejection
It naturally appears in
3- general jocundity
General jocundity followed the announcement of the safe return.
- air of jocundity
An air of jocundity filled the decorated station.
- evening's jocundity
The evening's jocundity drew tired neighbors back into conversation.
The word family
3Where this comes from
Jocundity is rare literary vocabulary and is unsuitable for most plain-language copy.
- Wiktionary, English noun sense: the quality of being jocund opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.