bon vivant
noun
bon vi·vant ˌbän-vē-ˈvänt 
ˌbōⁿ-vē-ˈväⁿ
ˌbōⁿ-vē-ˈväⁿ plural bons vivants ˌbän-vē-ˈvän(t)s
ˌbōⁿ-vē-ˈväⁿ(z)
or bon vivants ˌbän-vē-ˈvän(t)s ˌbōⁿ-vē-ˈväⁿ(z)
: a sociable person who has cultivated and refined tastes especially with respect to food and drink
She has become a bon vivant since moving to the city.
Did you know?
Fans of fine French wine and cuisine won't be surprised to hear that the French language gave us a number of words for those who enjoy good living and good eating. Gourmet, gourmand, and gastronome come from French, as does bon vivant. In the late 17th century, English-speakers borrowed this French phrase, which literally means "good liver." No, we don't mean liver, as in the organ. We mean liver, as in "one who lives (in a specified way)"—in this case, "one who lives well."
Synonyms
- epicure
- epicurean
- gastronome
- gastronomist
- gourmand
- gourmet
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
In addition to being a renowned travel writer, he was a bon vivant who loves to hold dinner parties and serve exquisite, elaborate meals.
Recent Examples on the Web Like the city itself, the food has an inimitable bon vivant spirit. 
Tracey Teo, ajc, 21 July 2022 Sassoon’s glum persona contradicts his bon vivant advantages — at least that’s what Davies makes of Sassoon’s lifelong pessimism. Armond White, National Review, 3 June 2022 McGrath was a unique figure in mid-century popular culture — a rags-to-riches bon vivant who entered the music business when Atlantic founder Ahmet Ertegun decided to give him his own label, Clean Records. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2022 Several current and former Caroline Church parishioners interviewed for this article remember Father Wancura as something of an eccentric bon vivant. New York Times, 4 Feb. 2022 Like much of her work from the 1980s, it was dedicated to the memory of her mother, fashion designer and bon vivant Mme Willi Posey (Momma Jones, as my sister and I knew her). Michele Wallace, Town & Country, 25 Jan. 2022 Many come for superb skiing or other recreation like cross-country skiing, tobogganing and winter hiking, while others simply come to slow down and enjoy the quaint yet bon vivant lifestyle amongst spectacular scenic beauty. Spencer Elliott, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2021 Give it to the bon vivant and forever-young spirit. Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2021 Owner and bon vivant Joy Malinowski, who has a strong personal aesthetic and a background in art, restored the property about seven years ago. Sheri Castle, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2021 See More
Tracey Teo, ajc, 21 July 2022 Sassoon’s glum persona contradicts his bon vivant advantages — at least that’s what Davies makes of Sassoon’s lifelong pessimism. Armond White, National Review, 3 June 2022 McGrath was a unique figure in mid-century popular culture — a rags-to-riches bon vivant who entered the music business when Atlantic founder Ahmet Ertegun decided to give him his own label, Clean Records. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2022 Several current and former Caroline Church parishioners interviewed for this article remember Father Wancura as something of an eccentric bon vivant. New York Times, 4 Feb. 2022 Like much of her work from the 1980s, it was dedicated to the memory of her mother, fashion designer and bon vivant Mme Willi Posey (Momma Jones, as my sister and I knew her). Michele Wallace, Town & Country, 25 Jan. 2022 Many come for superb skiing or other recreation like cross-country skiing, tobogganing and winter hiking, while others simply come to slow down and enjoy the quaint yet bon vivant lifestyle amongst spectacular scenic beauty. Spencer Elliott, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2021 Give it to the bon vivant and forever-young spirit. Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2021 Owner and bon vivant Joy Malinowski, who has a strong personal aesthetic and a background in art, restored the property about seven years ago. Sheri Castle, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
French, literally, good liver
First Known Use
1674, in the meaning defined above
bons vivants
noun
variants or bon vivants
as in savorers
a person with refined tastes in food and wine a bon vivant who loves to hold dinner parties and serve exquisite, elaborate meals Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- savorers
- epicureans
- gastronomists
- gourmets
- epicures
- gastronomes
- gourmands
- connoisseurs
- foodies
- dilettanti
- turophiles
- dilettantes
- oenophiles
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hogs
- trenchermen
- hog
- guzzlers
- stuffers
- gluttons
- gorgers
- overeaters
- swillers