Heliophiles

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An individual who thrives in or enjoys exposure to sunlight and warm weather
2. someone who seeks out sunny environments for comfort and recreation
3. a person who embraces the warmth and brightness associated with sunny climates and activities

Etymology: In Greek, "hḗlios" meant the sun, and it was also the name of the sun god. "Philos" meant dear, beloved, or friend, and it gave English the "-phile" ending found in words like "bibliophile" and "Anglophile." Joined together, the two parts describe someone who is fond of the sun. The compound is a modern formation built from these classical pieces, not a term that ancient Greeks would have recognized. Its sense is also flexible: in botany and ecology, the same element describes plants and other organisms that thrive in full sunlight, and the human sense came from that broader use.