conviviality: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Formal/UncommonFormal, Literary, Descriptively Elevated
Quick answer
What does “conviviality” mean?
The quality or state of being friendly, lively, and enjoyable, especially at a social gathering.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality or state of being friendly, lively, and enjoyable, especially at a social gathering; a festive and friendly atmosphere.
A lifestyle or cultural quality that values friendliness, shared pleasure, good company, and feasting. It can imply a social philosophy that prioritises communal enjoyment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally rare in both variants.
Connotations
In both, it can carry connotations of 'old-world' charm, literary elegance, or intellectual hedonism.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both corpora; slightly more likely to be encountered in British literary or descriptive prose, but the difference is negligible.
Grammar
How to Use “conviviality” in a Sentence
The [noun] was full of conviviality.There was a genuine conviviality about the [event].The evening was noted for its conviviality.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “conviviality” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No direct verb form. The related concept is 'to convive' (archaic).]
American English
- [No direct verb form. The related concept is 'to convive' (archaic).]
adverb
British English
- [The adverb 'convivially' is grammatically possible but extremely rare.]
American English
- [The adverb 'convivially' is grammatically possible but extremely rare.]
adjective
British English
- The pub had a wonderfully convivial atmosphere for a Sunday roast.
American English
- He is known for being a convivial host at his weekend barbecues.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May appear in descriptions of corporate culture or team-building events to denote a positive, cooperative atmosphere.
Academic
Used in sociology, anthropology, and cultural studies to describe social bonding practices, often in contrast to alienation.
Everyday
Very rare in casual speech. Used in formal writing or descriptive speech (e.g., wedding speeches, travel writing).
Technical
Not a technical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “conviviality”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “conviviality”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “conviviality”
- Spelling error: 'conviviality' (double 'i').
- Confusing with 'conventionality'.
- Using it to describe a loud, raucous party (it implies warmth, not chaos).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a formal, low-frequency word most often found in descriptive or literary writing, not everyday conversation.
'Sociability' is the general tendency to seek companionship. 'Conviviality' specifically describes the warm, festive, and enjoyable *quality* of a social atmosphere or event.
Not directly. You describe a person as 'convivial' (the adjective). 'Conviviality' is the abstract noun for the quality they possess or the atmosphere they create.
It comes from Latin 'convivialis', from 'convivium' meaning 'a feast' ('con-' = together, 'vivere' = to live). It originally related to feasting together.
The quality or state of being friendly, lively, and enjoyable, especially at a social gathering.
Conviviality is usually formal, literary, descriptively elevated in register.
Conviviality: in British English it is pronounced /kənˌvɪv.iˈæl.ə.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˌvɪv.iˈæl.ə.t̬i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not commonly used in idioms; the word itself is descriptive]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CONVIVIAL party: you CONVENE with VIVID, lively people.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL HARMONY IS A FEAST / FRIENDLY SOCIAL INTERACTION IS WARMTH
Practice
Quiz
Which situation best exemplifies 'conviviality'?