kumbaya
kumbaya Lexical Profile
kumbaya Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
American Characterized by a naive, overly idealistic, or superficial effort to achieve harmony, consensus, or fellowship, often used sarcastically.
"The mediator's kumbaya approach failed to resolve the deep-seated financial disputes between the two merging companies."
• noun
American An atmosphere, moment, or gesture of idealistic harmony, unity, and fellowship, often viewed as naive, sentimental, or superficial.
"After weeks of bitter negotiations, nobody expected a sudden moment of kumbaya in the boardroom."
Word Nuance & Usage
While originally the title of a sincere African American spiritual song celebrating unity and divine help, in modern political and corporate discourse the word is almost exclusively used sarcastically or pejoratively to mock perceived naivety and superficial harmony.
• Rhymes for kumbaya
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From the title of an African American spiritual song recorded in the 1920s, representing a Gullah creole pronunciation of the phrase "come by here."
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.