adj
Uncommon
cordial
KAW-dee-uhl
Cordial (adj) means Warm and friendly, though often in a polite or formal way. Example: “The two rivals exchanged a cordial handshake.”
adj
1
Warm and friendly, though often in a polite or formal way.
"The two rivals exchanged a cordial handshake."
"Relations between the neighbours remained cordial despite the dispute."
noun
1
A sweet, concentrated fruit drink diluted with water before drinking (chiefly British).
"She poured the kids a glass of blackcurrant cordial."
2
A flavoured liqueur, often sweet.
"He kept a bottle of cherry cordial for after dinner."
How to use cordial
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPolitely warm and friendly — or, as a noun in British English, a diluted fruit drink or sweet liqueur.
UK vs US
The drink sense (a diluted fruit squash) is mainly British; Americans are more likely to know "cordial" as a type of liqueur.
Common pairings
cordial relationship
cordial welcome
fruit cordial
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Word forms
- Plural
- cordials
- Comparative
- more cordial
- Superlative
- most cordial
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The two rivals exchanged a _____ handshake.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin cordialis ("of the heart"), from Latin cor ("heart") — originally a "cordial" was something believed to strengthen the heart.
Related words
Rhymes for cordial
See all rhymes for cordial →Frequently asked questions
What does “cordial” mean?
The word “cordial” means warm and friendly, though often in a polite or formal way. In plain terms, politely warm and friendly — or, as a noun in British English, a diluted fruit drink or sweet liqueur.
How do you pronounce “cordial”?
“Cordial” is pronounced KAW-dee-uhl (/ˈkɔɹ.di.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “cordial” in a sentence?
Here is “cordial” used in a sentence: “The two rivals exchanged a cordial handshake.”
What part of speech is “cordial”?
Depending on how it is used, “cordial” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “cordial” come from?
The word “cordial” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin cordialis ("of the heart"), from Latin cor ("heart") — originally a "cordial" was something believed to strengthen the heart.
Is “cordial” a common word?
“Cordial” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cordial” have?
“Cordial” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: warm and friendly, though often in a polite or formal way.
