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adj

jaunty

JAWN-tee

Jaunty (adj) means Lively, confident, and stylish in manner or appearance. Example: “He walked down the street with a jaunty spring in his step.”

adj
1
Lively, confident, and stylish in manner or appearance.
"He walked down the street with a jaunty spring in his step."
"She wore her hat at a jaunty angle."

How to use jaunty

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCheerful, breezy, and a bit stylish in the way someone moves or carries themselves.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
jaunty angle jaunty tune jaunty walk

Word forms

jauntier comparative, jaunties plural, jauntiest superlative

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He walked down the street with a _____ spring in his step.

Etymology

From French gentil, "noble" or "elegant" — the same root that gives English "gentle" and "genteel," though jaunty took on a livelier, more carefree meaning.

Origin: French

Rhymes for jaunty

See all rhymes for jaunty →

Frequently asked questions

What does “jaunty” mean?

The word “jaunty” means lively, confident, and stylish in manner or appearance. In plain terms, cheerful, breezy, and a bit stylish in the way someone moves or carries themselves.

How do you pronounce “jaunty”?

“Jaunty” is pronounced JAWN-tee (/ˈd͡ʒɔːn.ti/ in IPA).

How do you use “jaunty” in a sentence?

Here is “jaunty” used in a sentence: “He walked down the street with a jaunty spring in his step.”

What part of speech is “jaunty”?

“Jaunty” is an adjective.

Where does the word “jaunty” come from?

The word “jaunty” comes from French. From French gentil, "noble" or "elegant" — the same root that gives English "gentle" and "genteel," though jaunty took on a livelier, more carefree meaning.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial