English Reference
Adjective

buoyant

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈbɔɪənt/ UK /bˈɔɪənt/ buoy·ant

adj.feeling happy and full of energy. It also describes something that floats easily on water.

adj.characterised by a light, lively, or optimistic mood; also describes the ability of an object to remain afloat.


SIMPLE

The team felt buoyant after winning the championship.

CONTEXTUAL

The buoyant economy led to a record number of new businesses opening in the city center last year.

COMPLEX

Despite the initial setbacks, the buoyant spirit of the crew kept them motivated as they navigated the treacherous waters of the storm.

They concluded that black people were simply less buoyant than white people.

BBC News· 31 Aug 2026

From buoy + -ant.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated