good humor
Less CommonFormal/Literary
Definition
Meaning
A cheerful, pleasant, or friendly mood or temperament.
An agreeable quality or atmosphere; a state of pleasantness and amiability, often used to describe a person's disposition or the tone of a social situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun phrase referring to an abstract state or quality. It is often used in a positive, descriptive sense, though can be used in its negative form (e.g., 'not in good humour').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The British English spelling is 'good humour', while the American English spelling is 'good humor'.
Connotations
In both varieties, it has positive connotations of agreeableness and cheer. It can sound slightly formal or old-fashioned.
Frequency
More frequently encountered in British English, particularly in literary or formal contexts. 'Good mood' is a more common everyday equivalent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to be in good humourto do something with good humourto have good humourgood humour prevailedVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to keep someone in good humour”
- “to take something in good humour (meaning: to not be offended)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might be used in formal reports about workplace atmosphere: 'The project proceeded in an atmosphere of good humour.'
Academic
Occasional; used in literary analysis or historical texts describing character or social interaction.
Everyday
Uncommon; 'good mood' is preferred. May be used in slightly formal or descriptive speech: 'She bore the delay with good humour.'
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He managed to good-humour his way through the awkward interview. (rare, non-standard)
adverb
British English
- He smiled good-humouredly at the chaos.
American English
- She good-humoredly agreed to help.
adjective
British English
- He gave a good-humoured reply to the criticism.
American English
- She was known for her good-humored acceptance of teasing.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She is in a good humour today.
- My dad has good humour.
- He accepted the news with good humour.
- It's important to keep your good humour during a long trip.
- Despite the setbacks, she managed the team with unflagging good humour.
- The captain's good humour helped to calm the nervous passengers.
- His remarkable good humour in the face of such relentless adversity was an inspiration to us all.
- The evening was characterised by excellent food, lively debate, and prevailing good humour.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'humour' as a medieval 'fluid' thought to control mood. 'Good humour' is the fluid that makes you cheerful.
Conceptual Metaphor
MOOD IS A SUBSTANCE (one can be 'full of' good humour, it can be 'lost' or 'restored').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'хороший юмор' (which means good jokes/funny humour). The correct conceptual equivalent is 'хорошее настроение' (good mood) or 'добродушие' (good-naturedness).
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean 'a good joke' (e.g., 'He told a good humour').
- Confusing it with the more common 'sense of humour'.
- Using it in overly casual contexts where 'good mood' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the CLOSEST synonym for 'good humour' in the sentence: 'He faced the tedious task with good humour.'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Good humour' refers to a cheerful mood or temperament. 'Sense of humour' refers to the ability to perceive, enjoy, or express what is funny.
It is less common in everyday spoken English, where 'good mood' is preferred. It is more often found in written, literary, or formal contexts.
Yes, it can describe the general atmosphere of a gathering or situation (e.g., 'The meeting was conducted in a spirit of good humour').
British English uses 'good humour' (with a 'u'), while American English uses 'good humor' (without the 'u').