Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A person with refined taste, especially one who enjoys superb food and drink.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • A generous liver; a jovial companion.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • A good fellow; a jovial companion; a free liver.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun a person who enjoys the good things in life, especially good food and drink; a man about town

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a person devoted to refined sensuous enjoyment (especially good food and drink)

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French : bon, good + vivant, present participle of vivre, to live.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

French bon vivant (literally "one who lives well, good ‘liver’ (living person)"), from bon ("good") + vivant ("person who is living"), agent noun of vivre ("to live").

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Examples

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Comments

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  • This word always makes me think of reesetee now. Who is an old Creole bon vivant.

    August 20, 2009

  • *flattered*

    They must have named the tulip after me too.

    August 20, 2009