Words / B2

GAY-uh-tee/ˈɡeɪəti/

Gaiety is a lively, cheerful atmosphere (usually uncountable; rather formal or literary): public gaiety; a mood of gaiety. Cheerfulness and merriment are close twins; gay as “cheerful” is dated in this sense. Gaiety in the memoir still needs a named event. Mix-up: gaiety vs galaxy; gay as a modern identity word (different sense); do not write gaiety for a party slogan with no source event.

Meaning

A lively, cheerful atmosphere (usually uncountable; rather formal or literary).

Examples

• “Gaiety in the memoir still needs a named event, not a party slogan.”
• “Post-war gaiety in the source still needs a named shortage or a ration end-date, which is the history sense.”

Good to know

public / forced gaiety; a mood of gaiety. Close: cheerfulness / merriment. Trap: galaxy / modern gay. Literature, history, and news. Lively cheerfulness — name the occasion.

Near in meaning

cheerfulness, merriment, festivity

New