Words / B1

JOYFL/ˈdʒɔɪfl/

Joyful means full of happiness. Joy is the noun (already in the dictionary); happy is everyday; cheerful is lighter. Do not use joyful for grim cuts or a death notice. Reports: the tone was not joyful — the cuts stayed.

Meaning

Full of happiness; showing joy.

Examples

• “The tone of the report was not joyful — the cuts stayed.”
• “A joyful assembly is fine; a joyful inquest headline is not.”

Good to know

joyful + noun (news, tone, occasion). Noun: joy. Everyday: happy. Not for grim official news. Contrast: solemn.

Near in meaning

happy

New