elegant

adjective

el·​e·​gant ˈe-li-gənt How to pronounce elegant (audio)
1
: marked by elegance
elegant clothes
an elegant solution
2
: of a high grade or quality : splendid
elegant gems priced at hundreds of thousands of dollars
elegantly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for elegant

choice, exquisite, elegant, rare, delicate, dainty mean having qualities that appeal to a cultivated taste.

choice stresses preeminence in quality or kind.

choice fabric

exquisite implies a perfection in workmanship or design that appeals only to very sensitive taste.

an exquisite gold bracelet

elegant applies to what is rich and luxurious but restrained by good taste.

a sumptuous but elegant dining room

rare suggests an uncommon excellence.

rare beauty

delicate implies exquisiteness, subtlety, and fragility.

delicate craftsmanship

dainty sometimes carries an additional suggestion of smallness and of appeal to the eye or palate.

dainty sandwiches

Examples of elegant in a Sentence

an elegant solution to the problem the most elegant First Lady in the nation's history
Recent Examples on the Web Shop the elegant workhorse for a whopping $318 off. Rachel Simon, Southern Living, 21 Mar. 2024 Faraday velvet takes the humble concept of chicken wire and transforms it into a twisting pattern that would feel at home within the walls of an elegant estate. Kate Maxwell Lindsey Tramuta Reggie Nadelson Gisela Williams Roxanne Fequiere Siska Lyssens, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024 Taken By the Princess of Wales Has Been Flagged as Manipulated This ready-to-wear brand has cultivated an ardent following for its elegant, feminine shapes and inclusive sizing since launching in 2012. Laura Neilson, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024 Click here for an elegant Easter menu. 6 of 22Greg DuPree Asparagus and Prosciutto Strata Eggs and asparagus are a perfect pair, accented with salty prosciutto, chives, and lemon. Sunset Staff, Sunset Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024 The neighborhood around the Angel of Independence statue along the elegant Paseo de la Reforma sank so much that authorities had to add more steps just to reach the base of the monument. Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 The remodel included rearranging the layout and introducing an elegant Georgian vernacular with the relaxed feeling of a traditional English country house and just a touch of Parisian flair. Mark David, Robb Report, 20 Mar. 2024 Rooms keep things contemporary and warm with a variety of wood colors, clean and minimalist lines, and an elegant nod to traditional Mexican colonial decor. Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2024 Fat City was the Old Sacramento sister concept to elegant downtown Chinese American restaurant Frank Fat’s, and leaned more into the American side, with tri-colored nachos, turkey avocado BLTs and bacon cheeseburgers on its final menu. Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elegant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin elegant-, elegans; akin to Latin eligere to select — more at elect

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of elegant was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near elegant

Cite this Entry

“Elegant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elegant. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

elegant

adjective
el·​e·​gant ˈel-i-gənt How to pronounce elegant (audio)
1
: having or showing elegance
2
: of excellent quality : splendid
elegantly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on elegant

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