# happiness

/ˈhæpinəs/ (US) · /hˈæpɪnəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/happiness
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the feeling of joy

noun · CEFR A2

the feeling of being happy and satisfied with your life.

For teachers: the emotional state of being happy; a sense of well-being, contentment, or joy.

- The children's faces were full of happiness when they saw the new puppy.
- True happiness often stems from a sense of purpose and the quality of one's social connections rather than material wealth alone.

### 2. well-being or prosperity

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a state of doing well and being successful in life.

For teachers: a state of thriving, prosperity, or general well-being.

- The king worked hard to ensure the happiness and safety of his people.
- In older texts, the term often refers to the general happiness of the commonwealth, meaning its collective prosperity and health.

Usage: In modern English, this sense is almost entirely replaced by 'well-being' or 'prosperity'.

### 3. graceful expression

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

a lucky or clever way of saying something.

For teachers: a particularly apt or pleasing quality in expression or style.

- The poet was famous for the happiness of his descriptions.
- The critic praised the happiness of the author's prose, noting how effortlessly the metaphors captured the mood of the era.

Teaching tip: This sense is very rare today; modern speakers would use 'felicity' or 'aptness' to describe well-chosen words.

## Examples

- Money cannot buy true happiness.
- She found great happiness in her new job, enjoying both the challenging work and her supportive colleagues.
- Philosophers have long debated whether happiness is a fleeting emotional state tied to external circumstances or a cultivated, enduring sense of inner peace.

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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.