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Definition of happiness

happiness

/ˈhæp.i.nəs/
hap · pi · ness
Adverb:happily
•
Plural:happinesses
•
Adjective:happy
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happiness Lexical Profile

happiness Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The state or feeling of being pleased, content, joyful, or satisfied with one's life and circumstances.

Example

"Spending quiet afternoons in the garden with her family brought her a deep sense of happiness."

2

Aptness, suitability, or pleasing gracefulness in expression, style, or action.

Example

"The critic praised the essay for its remarkable happiness of phrasing and clarity of thought."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for happiness
Antonyms
View all antonyms for happiness

• Rhymes for happiness

• Nearby Words

happening
happenstance
happily
happiness
happy
haptic
haptics

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the early 16th century from the adjective 'happy' and the suffix '-ness'. 'Happy' derives from Middle English 'hap' (meaning chance or good fortune), which was borrowed from Old Norse 'happ', so 'happiness' originally meant 'good luck' before shifting to its modern emotional sense.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Happiness. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/happiness
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