English Reference
Noun

contentment

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /kənˈtɛntmənt/ UK /kəntˈɛntmənt/ con·tent·ment UK spelling contentments

n.a feeling of being happy and satisfied with what you have. You feel this when you are not worried and do not want anything more.

n.a state of peaceful happiness and satisfaction. Often associated with a lack of desire for further material or social advancement.


SIMPLE

He found great contentment in his quiet life.

CONTEXTUAL

After years of stressful city living, she finally found a sense of contentment in the countryside.

COMPLEX

True contentment often stems from an internal appreciation of one's current circumstances rather than the constant pursuit of external validation or material wealth.

Usage

Often follows the verbs 'find', 'feel', or 'seek'; frequently appears in the phrase 'a sense of contentment'.

After a rocky few decades, the standup is nearing 60 – and finding contentment at last.

The Guardian· 30 Aug 2026

People living in Indonesia scored highest for contentment with friendships and relationships, while people in Japan scored lowest.

Phys.org· 13 Aug 2026

From Middle French contentement. By surface analysis, content + -ment.

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated