Word of the Day: Apricity — Meaning, origin and usage explained

Apricity captures that delightful sensation of sunshine warming your skin during the chill of winter. This distinctive English term, derived from the Latin 'apricus' meaning sunny, provides a perfect way to express a universally appreciated feelin...

By ET Online | Updated: Aug 10, 2026, 11.10 PM IST

So the next time you feel the comforting warmth of sunlight on a chilly day, you can describe it with a rare word: **apricity**.

Looking for a rare English word that captures a feeling many people experience but rarely know how to describe? Apricity is a beautiful old word that refers to the warmth of the sun on a cold day. It describes that comforting feeling when sunlight provides welcome warmth despite chilly weather.

The word is rarely used in everyday conversation today, but its meaning makes it a fascinating addition to your vocabulary. If you enjoy discovering unusual English words, apricity is one worth remembering.

What does “apricity” mean?

Apricity means the warmth of the sun, especially when felt during cold weather.

In simple terms, it describes the pleasant warmth you feel when you sit in sunshine on a cold day.

For example, you might step outside on a winter morning and find a sunny spot where the sunlight feels noticeably warmer than the surrounding air. That experience can be described as apricity.

Apricity meaning in simple English

Apricity = the pleasant warmth of sunshine on a cold day.

The word is particularly useful because English does not have many common words that describe this specific experience.

How do you pronounce apricity?

The word apricity is generally pronounced:

uh-PRIS-i-tee

The emphasis falls on the second syllable.

Where does the word apricity come from?

Apricity comes from the Latin word “apricus,” meaning “exposed to the sun” or “sunny.”

The English word has a long history but never became common in everyday speech. Today, it is mostly encountered in discussions about rare English vocabulary, historical words and unusual expressions.

How to use apricity in a sentence

Here are some examples of how apricity can be used:

We sat outside and enjoyed the apricity of the winter sun.
The apricity made the cold morning feel surprisingly pleasant.
She found a sunny bench where she could enjoy the afternoon apricity.
There was something comforting about the apricity on that chilly day.

Why is apricity considered a rare English word?

English contains thousands of unusual and forgotten words that describe very specific emotions, experiences and situations. Apricity is one such word.

Although the experience itself is familiar to many people, the word used to describe it has largely disappeared from everyday vocabulary.

That makes apricity an interesting word of the day for anyone looking to expand their English vocabulary.

Apricity: A word for a simple pleasure

One reason apricity stands out is that it gives a name to an ordinary but enjoyable experience.

A cold day can make even a small patch of sunshine feel special. Sitting near a sunny window, walking through a winter afternoon or finding warmth on a sunlit balcony can all bring the sensation described by apricity.

So the next time you feel the comforting warmth of sunlight on a chilly day, you can describe it with a rare word: apricity.