WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
gen•ial1 /ˈdʒinyəl, ˈdʒiniəl/USA pronunciation
adj.
gen•ial•ly, adv.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- warmly and pleasantly cheerful; cordial:a genial disposition.
- pleasantly warm;
comfortably mild:a genial climate.
gen•ial•ly, adv.
gen•ial1
( jēn′yəl, jē′nē əl),USA pronunciation adj.
gen′ial•ly, adv.
ge•ni•al•i•ty
( jē′nē al′i tē),USA pronunciation gen′ial•ness, n.
ge•ni•al2 ( jə nī′əl),USA pronunciation adj. [Anat., Zool.]
- warmly and pleasantly cheerful; cordial:a genial disposition; a genial host.
- favorable for life, growth, or comfort;
pleasantly warm;
comfortably mild:the genial climate of Hawaii. - characterized by genius.
- Latin geniālis festive, jovial, pleasant, equivalent. to geni(us) tutelary deity, the spirit of social enjoyment + -ālis -al1
- 1560–70
- 1. friendly, hearty, pleasant, agreeable.
ge•ni•al2 ( jə nī′əl),USA pronunciation adj. [Anat., Zool.]
- Anatomy, Zoologyof or pertaining to the chin.
- Greek génei(on) chin, derivative of gén(ys) jaw (compare Latin gena) + -al1
- 1825–35
'geniality' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):