melancholy
/ˈmɛl.ən.kɒl.i/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Feeling sad in a quiet, thoughtful way. It is softer and more reflective than strong grief or anger.
- She felt melancholy after the long goodbye.
- The old song gave him a melancholy mood.
- His letter had a melancholy tone.
noun
A state of quiet sadness. It can also mean a thoughtful, slightly sad feeling in art or writing.
- A feeling of melancholy stayed with her all day.
- The poem carries a gentle melancholy.
- The movie ends with a deep melancholy.
Adinary Nuance
Melancholy is close to sad, gloomy, and wistful, but it is more poetic and calm. Use it when the sadness feels quiet, deep, or reflective. It sounds more literary than everyday sad. Writers often choose it for mood, music, and art.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- u sầu
- Spanish
- melancolía
- Chinese
- 忧郁
- Japanese
- 憂鬱
- Korean
- 우울
Etymology
Melancholy comes from Greek through Latin and Old French. It originally meant a bad mood caused by “black bile,” an old medical idea.
Common phrases
a melancholy moodmelancholy musicmelancholy feelingwith melancholy
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is melancholy a formal word?
- Yes, it is more formal and literary than sad. People often use it in writing, music, and reviews.
- What is the difference between melancholy and sad?
- Sad is general and common. Melancholy suggests quiet, thoughtful sadness.
- Can melancholy be a noun and an adjective?
- Yes. As an adjective, it describes something sad. As a noun, it means a sad mood or feeling.
- Is melancholy used in IELTS writing?
- Yes, it can be useful in descriptive writing. Use it when you want a more precise, literary tone.