Bonhomie

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Grammarist

Bonhomie is a term that many find confusing. Bonhomie is a loan word. We will examine the definition of bonhomie, where it came from and some examples of its use in sentences.

Bonhomie means exuberance, friendliness, geniality. Bonhomie is a noun that describes a state of good humor, cheerfulness, or being good-natured. Synonyms of bonhomie that may be found in a thesaurus are agreeableness, pleasantness, congeniality. The term bonhomie carries a connotation of being gregarious and full of love for one’s fellow man, a feeling that all is right with the world. People enjoy being around someone who is filled with bonhomie. The term bonhomie is a loan word from the French. While bonhomie is taken directly from the French where it means easy-tempered, it is derived from the French word bonhomme. Bonhomme is a French compound word combining the word bon meaning good and homme meaning man. Homme is derived from the Latin word homo, which means man. Bonhomie entered the English language around the turn of the nineteenth century.

Examples

For all those cross words exchanged on prime time and parliamentary debates, there exists another season in Delhi’s political life: it’s known as winter, when regardless of the fiery exchanges and the heat and dust they cause, the dappled sunlight of a balmy December afternoon brings about an unimaginable amount of bonhomie and good cheer to the most pugnacious of political hearts. (The Hindustan Times)

No cheeks were kissed, no friendly rubs were given, none of the bonhomie of their earlier meetings was on display. (The New York Times)

The bonhomie and cordiality reflected by those at the opposing side in the Parliament prompted some to advise to bring the political tensions and temperature down with the similar spirit of reconciliation and dialogue while shedding the acrimony. (The International News)

Black Mirror‘s choose-your-own-adventure episode ‘Bandersnatch’ landed on 28 December, right in that sweet spot where a lot of people are still off work and the general festive bonhomie has worn thin, but you’re quickly running out of ways to put off leaving the house. (Esquire Magazine)

But unlike this year’s Christmas episode (which was filled with the bonhomie expected at that time of the year), it is propelled by a competitive edge reminiscent of a semi-final, where four bakers are left vying for the final prize. (The Independent)