ennui ennui /ɒnˈwiː / ▸ noun [mass noun] a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement: he succumbed to ennui a

ennui ennui /ɒnˈwiː / ▸ noun [mass noun] a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement: he succumbed to ennui and despair. – ORIGIN mid 18th century: French , from Latin in odio(n-), from mihi in odio est ‘it is hateful to me’. Compare with annoy.