bon vivant
noun
ˌbōⁿ-vē-ˈväⁿ
ˌbän-vē-ˈvän(t)s
ˌbōⁿ-vē-ˈväⁿ(z)
or bon vivants
ˌbän-vē-ˈvänt
ˌbän-vē-ˈvän(t)s
ˌbōⁿ-vē-ˈväⁿ(z)
Did you know?
Do you consider yourself a bon vivant? If you’re not sure, perhaps a peek into the word’s origin will help. In French, the phrase literally means “good liver.” Fear not if you are among those who are underinformed about the state of their liver. The “liver” here is not the bodily organ, but one who lives; a bon vivant is one who lives well. English speakers have used bon vivant since the late 17th century to refer specifically to those who subscribe to a particular kind of good living—one that involves lots of social engagements and the enjoyment of fancy food and drink. This puts the term very much in the company of some other French words. Gourmet, gourmand, and gastronome all refer to those who love a fancy meal (though gourmand often carries the connotation of a tendency to overindulge). Bon appétit!
Synonyms
Examples of bon vivant in a Sentence
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024
Roosevelt used his bon vivant air to encourage people to speak up and share their truths with him.
—John Baldoni, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
While the Cyclades have made Condé Nast Traveler’s list of the Best Places to Go in 2024, for those en route to the islands, Athens and its bon vivant attitude await, and demand more than just a single night to be discovered.
—Anastasia Miari, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Mar. 2024
Zubkov is a free spirit and a bon vivant, and Yaffa relishes his antiauthoritarian spirit.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2020
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Dictionary Entries Near bon vivant
Cite this Entry
“Bon vivant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bon%20vivant. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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