Gaiety
noun /ˈɡeɪ.ɪ.ti/ — Carefree, lighthearted merriment
Definition
The quality of being cheerful and carefree — a lighthearted merriment that is not anxious about anything, that has not yet borrowed against tomorrow's worry.
Beyond the definition
Happiness without agenda. Gaiety is the opposite of careful happiness — it is the joy of people who are not watching themselves, who have temporarily forgotten to be responsible.
Origin & history
From French 'gaieté' (cheerfulness, merriment) — from 'gai' (merry, cheerful). The word carries a slightly old-fashioned quality that preserves something: a gaiety that feels pre-modern, pre-anxious.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The gaiety of the afternoon was total — nobody was checking their phone, nobody was thinking about tomorrow.
There was a forced gaiety to the party — the kind that comes when people are trying to be happy rather than being it.
Street festivals have a particular gaiety that indoor parties rarely match — the air changes when joy has no ceiling.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Gaiety” when the meaning fits your context: The quality of being cheerful and carefree — a lighthearted merriment that is not anxious about anything, that has not yet borrowed against tomorrow's worry.
Synonyms
Antonyms
gloom, melancholy, solemnity
Related words
Questions about this word
What does "Gaiety" mean?
Gaiety is noun meaning: Carefree, lighthearted merriment. The quality of being cheerful and carefree — a lighthearted merriment that is not anxious about anything, that has not yet borrowed against tomorrow's worry.
Where does the word "Gaiety" come from?
From French 'gaieté' (cheerfulness, merriment) — from 'gai' (merry, cheerful). The word carries a slightly old-fashioned quality that preserves something: a gaiety that feels pre-modern, pre-anxious.