First published 1901; not yet revised

joyfuladjective

Etymology
Meaning & use
Pronunciation
Frequency
Compounds & derived words

Quotations

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Factsheet

What does the adjective joyful mean?

There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the adjective joyful. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

See meaning & use

How common is the adjective joyful?

About 2occurrences per million words in modern written English

1750	6.2
1760	6.1
1770	5.5
1780	5.8
1790	6.1
1800	6.9
1810	7.6
1820	8.0
1830	8.1
1840	8.0
1850	7.6
1860	7.0
1870	6.3
1880	5.5
1890	4.9
1900	4.3
1910	3.7
1920	3.2
1930	2.8
1940	2.5
1950	2.3
1960	2.2
1970	2.2
1980	2.2
1990	2.4
2000	2.6
2010	2.8

See frequency

How is the adjective joyful pronounced?

British English

/ˈdʒɔɪf(ᵿ)l/

JOY-fuhl

U.S. English

/ˈdʒɔɪfəl/

JOY-fuhl

See pronunciation

Where does the adjective joyful come from?

Earliest known use

Middle English

The earliest known use of the adjective joyful is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).

OED's earliest evidence for joyful is from around 1290, in South English Legendary.

joyful is formed within English, by derivation.

Etymons: joy n., ‑ful suffix.

See etymology

Nearby entries

joy, v.c1260–
joyance, n.1590–
joyancy, n.1849–
joyant, adj.1834–
Joycean, adj. & n.1925–
joyed, adj.1491–
joy-fire, n.1845–
joy-firing, n.1864–
joy-flight, n.1923–
joyfnes, n.c1400
joyful, adj.c1290–
joyfully, adv.c1330–
joyfulness, n.c1485–
joy-gun, n.1851–
joy-house, n.1940–
joying, n.c1300–
joyingly, adv.c1430–50
joy juice, n.1960–
joyless, adj.a1400–
joy-making, n.c1330
joyous, adj.c1305–

Browse more nearby entries

Etymology

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Frequency

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Compounds & derived words

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Entry history for joyful, adj.

joyful, adj. was first published in 1901; not yet revised.

joyful, adj. was last modified in July 2023.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into joyful, adj. in July 2023.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1901)

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OED Second Edition (1989)

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View joyful, a. in OED Second Edition

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Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “,” , .

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“” Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, , .

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Citation details

Factsheet for joyful, adj.

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Nearby entries

joy, v.c1260–
joyance, n.1590–
joyancy, n.1849–
joyant, adj.1834–
Joycean, adj. & n.1925–
joyed, adj.1491–
joy-fire, n.1845–
joy-firing, n.1864–
joy-flight, n.1923–
joyfnes, n.c1400
joyful, adj.c1290–
joyfully, adv.c1330–
joyfulness, n.c1485–
joy-gun, n.1851–
joy-house, n.1940–
joying, n.c1300–
joyingly, adv.c1430–50
joy juice, n.1960–
joyless, adj.a1400–
joy-making, n.c1330
joyous, adj.c1305–

Browse more nearby entries