# felicity

/fɪˈɫɪsəti/ (US) · /fɛlˈɪsɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/felicity
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. happiness

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

a state of great happiness or contentment.

For teachers: the state of being happy; intense happiness or bliss.

- The couple lived in perfect felicity for many years in their small cottage.
- The poet often wrote about the domestic felicity he found in the quiet moments of his later life.

Usage: Uncountable in this abstract sense.

Teaching tip: This is a very formal or literary alternative to 'happiness'. Advise students to use it only in high-level academic or creative writing.

### 2. pleasing style

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Academic

the ability to choose words or a style that is exactly right for the situation.

For teachers: the quality of being apt or appropriate, especially in the choice of words or artistic expression.

- The speaker was admired for the felicity of his language.
- The critic praised the novel for its stylistic felicity, noting how every metaphor felt perfectly chosen for the setting.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'of'.

Teaching tip: In academic contexts, this refers to how well a piece of writing 'fits' its purpose.

### 3. economic utility

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic

a technical term for how much satisfaction or benefit someone gets at a specific moment.

For teachers: the measure of utility or satisfaction derived at a specific point in time, rather than over a lifetime.

- The economist measured the felicity of the consumers after the price drop.
- In the proposed model, the individual's total welfare is calculated as the sum of discounted felicity over the entire period.

Usage: Used specifically within economic modelling and utility theory.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialized term in economics; outside of that field, use 'happiness' or 'satisfaction'.

## Examples

- The couple lived in a state of domestic felicity.
- The speech was praised for its stylistic felicity, as the speaker chose exactly the right metaphors for the occasion.
- While the philosopher argued that true felicity is found in contemplation, the common man often seeks it through material success and social recognition.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.