adj
jaunty
JAWN-tee
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 notesIn plain EnglishCheerful, breezy, and a bit stylish in the way someone moves or carries themselves.
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.