gaiety
gb/ɡˈeɪti/ us/ɡˈeɪti/
C1
English
~ 7200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
C1
state
1
cheerful, lively mood or activity
A feeling or mood of bright, happy, and lively fun, shown by people or in a place.
Usage pattern:
the gaiety of [someone/something]; full of gaiety
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think *gaiety* means sexual orientation because it looks like *gay*. In modern English, *gaiety* almost always means cheerful, lively happiness, not sexual identity.
Synonyms
merriment (Often used for noisy, shared fun and laughter, especially in social situations.)
Antonyms
gloom (Suggests a sad, dark, or depressed mood, the opposite of bright and lively gaiety.)
Collocations
air of gaiety
|sense of gaiety
|burst of gaiety
|full of gaiety
|gaiety and laughter
|a touch of gaiety
Themes
emotions
|social_life
|celebrations
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The room was filled with music, laughter, and an unexpected gaiety that lifted everyone’s spirits.
- Her sudden gaiety at dinner surprised her friends, who had expected her to be quiet and serious.
- Bright lights and children’s voices brought a welcome gaiety to the otherwise dull street.
- After weeks of tension, there was a new gaiety in the office once the project finally ended.
Learner examples
- There was a feeling of gaiety at the party.
- His gaiety made the other people in the room smile.
- We enjoyed the gaiety of the festival.
- The children’s gaiety changed the mood of the house.
Noun
literary
C2
entity
2
lively social events or entertainments
Fun social events like parties and shows, seen together as the entertaining part of life.
Usage pattern:
the gaieties of [a place/time]; social gaieties
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with the general mood sense and use it for a single small party. In this usage, *gaieties* usually refers to many social events or to a lifestyle full of parties and entertainment.
Synonyms
festivities (Stresses celebrations and special events, especially around holidays or important dates.)
Antonyms
drudgery (Emphasizes dull, repetitive work or daily tasks, contrasted with enjoyable social gaieties.)
Collocations
the gaieties of the season
|social gaieties
|the gaieties of city life
|escape from the gaieties
|tiring gaieties
Themes
social_life
|leisure
|celebrations
|arts_entertainment
|relationships
|daily_life
Examples
- After weeks of social gaieties, he longed for a quiet evening at home.
- She threw herself into the gaieties of the season, attending every concert and party she was invited to.
- The novel contrasts the empty gaieties of high society with the harsh lives of the poor.
- Tired of the city’s constant gaieties, they moved to a small village by the sea.
Learner examples
- They enjoyed the gaieties of city life.
- After many gaieties at Christmas, she needed to rest.
- He was not interested in the social gaieties of his rich friends.
- The book shows the gaieties and the problems of young people in the city.
Noun
literary
C2
property
3
bright, colorful, cheerful appearance
Bright and colorful look in clothes or places that makes them seem happy.
Usage pattern:
the gaiety of [clothing/decoration/place]
Synonyms
colorfulness (Focuses only on having many bright colors, without necessarily including the emotional sense of cheerfulness implied by *gaiety*.)
Antonyms
drabness (Suggests dull, plain, or gray appearance, the opposite of bright and cheerful gaiety in appearance.)
Collocations
gaiety of dress
|gaiety of colors
|gaiety of decoration
|gaiety of the scene
|gaiety of the room
Themes
appearance
|art
|emotions
|arts_entertainment
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The gaiety of her dress stood out among the dark suits and gray coats.
- Red lanterns and flowers added a welcome gaiety to the narrow street.
- He disliked the forced gaiety of the decorations, which seemed out of place in the somber building.
- The children’s drawings brought a splash of gaiety to the classroom walls.
Learner examples
- The flowers gave the room a new gaiety.
- She liked the gaiety of his colorful shirt.
- Bright lights and posters added gaiety to the hall.
- The town wanted more gaiety in the main square.
Grammar
Expressions
an air of gaiety
1/ən ˈɛɹ əv ɡˈeɪti/
fixed phrase
a noticeable feeling of cheerfulness
A clear feeling or quality of happy, lively fun that you can sense in a person or place.
Examples
- Despite the bad news, there was still an air of gaiety in the crowded square.
- Her bright clothes and easy laugh gave the office an air of gaiety.
the gaiety of nations
1/ðə ɡˈeɪti əv nˈeɪʃənz/
idiom
literary
source of amusement for many people
A humorous literary phrase for the fun and amusement that many people share, often used about someone who entertains everyone.
Examples
- His death was described as a great loss to the gaiety of nations.
- As a comedian, she liked to joke that she lived only to increase the gaiety of nations.