exultation

Exultation is a strong feeling of triumph and jubilant joy, often arising in response to a notable achievement, victory, or success. It is typically marked by elation and intense delight and may be expressed outwardly through verbal expressions, laughter, shouting, dancing, or other communal celebrations.

The term derives from the Latin exultatio, from exultare, meaning to leap up or rejoice; ex- meaning out, saltus meaning a leap or rise. The word entered English in the late medieval period.

In psychology, exultation is an affective state on the high end of the spectrum of positive emotions, related to joy and elation; it can be brief or sustained, and is often social, reinforced by others' reactions.

In literature and religious contexts, exultation is used to describe scenes of triumph or to characterize the heavens or communities praising or thanking with exuberance; it can be formal, ceremonial, or apostrophic in tone.

Related terms include jubilation, rejoicing, and elation; exult is the corresponding verb. Exultation emphasizes the outward sense of triumph and celebratory energy more than quiet happiness.