eudaimonia
yoo-dy-MOH-nee-uh
/juːdaɪˈmoʊniə/
A condition of human flourishing, living well, and realizing one's full potential; true objective well-being.
Distinct from temporary emotional feeling ('happiness'); eudaimonia is an entire life well-lived through virtuous action.
The story behind the word. Formed from Greek 'eu' (good) and 'daimōn' (guiding spirit or inner daemon). Literally, it meant 'having a good spirit on your side.' To the Greeks, a person in eudaimonia was favored by fate because their inner soul was aligned with universal reason.
Word relationships
- flourishing: Flourishing is the modern English equivalent, whereas eudaimonia retains the formal classical philosophical context.
- fulfillment: Fulfillment focuses on achieving personal goals, whereas eudaimonia requires objective moral excellence.
- misery: Misery is a state of severe distress or suffering.
- languishing: Languishing describes a state of stagnant, unfulfilled existence lacking purpose or growth.
Commonly confused with
- hedonism: Hedonism seeks pleasure as the supreme good, while eudaimonia seeks fulfillment through noble character and flourishing.
Word family
- eudaimonic (adjective): Relating to or conducive to human flourishing.
- eudaimonism (noun): An ethical system that holds human flourishing as the highest good.
Collocations
- attain eudaimonia
- eudaimonic well-being
- quest for eudaimonia
- classical eudaimonia
Idioms & expressions
- the good life
- flourishing life
Example sentences
- "Aristotle argued that eudaimonia was the ultimate human good, achieved through a lifetime of virtuous activity." Aristotelian ethics essay
- "Psychologists distinguish between hedonic pleasure and eudaimonia, which stems from purpose, growth, and moral fulfillment." Modern psychological research
Memory hook
Think 'YOU-DEMON-IA'—having a good inner 'daemon' (spirit) guiding your life to complete realization. A good spirit within.
When not to use
Do not use to describe short-term pleasure, like eating ice cream or winning a prize; it is a holistic, long-term state of flourishing.
Fun facts
- Thomas Jefferson's famous phrase 'the pursuit of happiness' in the American Declaration of Independence was heavily influenced by Locke's reading of Greek 'eudaimonia'.
Explore more words
euphoric, well-being, blissful, prosperity, wellness, hedonism
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.