felicity
- 01 C1 Advanced
a state of great happiness or contentment.
the state of being happy; intense happiness or bliss.
Simple“The couple lived in perfect felicity for many years in their small cottage.”
In context“The poet often wrote about the domestic felicity he found in the quiet moments of his later life.”
UsageUncountable in this abstract sense.
Teacher's tipThis is a very formal or literary alternative to 'happiness'. Advise students to use it only in high-level academic or creative writing.
Antonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
the ability to choose words or a style that is exactly right for the situation.
the quality of being apt or appropriate, especially in the choice of words or artistic expression.
Simple“The speaker was admired for the felicity of his language.”
In context“The critic praised the novel for its stylistic felicity, noting how every metaphor felt perfectly chosen for the setting.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'of'.
Teacher's tipIn academic contexts, this refers to how well a piece of writing 'fits' its purpose.
SynonymsAntonymsinappropriateness - 03 C2 Proficiency
a technical term for how much satisfaction or benefit someone gets at a specific moment.
the measure of utility or satisfaction derived at a specific point in time, rather than over a lifetime.
Simple“The economist measured the felicity of the consumers after the price drop.”
In context“In the proposed model, the individual's total welfare is calculated as the sum of discounted felicity over the entire period.”
UsageUsed specifically within economic modelling and utility theory.
Teacher's tipThis is a highly specialized term in economics; outside of that field, use 'happiness' or 'satisfaction'.
Synonyms
“How do we balance our desire for modern conveniences with our nostalgia for the uncomplicated felicity of our pre-internet past?”
From the noun felicity, and also the English form of Latin Felicitas, a name borne by early martyrs.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.