adjective
elegant
EL-ih-guhnt/ˈelɪɡənt/
Pleasingly graceful and refined.
The elegant glass vase holds a single white lily.
Etymology
Latin elegans originally criticized someone as dainty or fastidious, then came to praise tasteful refinement. That shift from fussiness to refined grace underlies the modern compliment.
In context
… become better more refined and elegant versions of themselves …
More examples
- Simple furniture gives the dining room an elegant look.
- The dancer's movements are elegant and controlled.
- Her elegant solution fixes the problem with one small change.
Forms
elegant · more elegant · most elegant
elegance noun — The quality of being graceful and refined.
elegantly adverb — In a graceful and refined manner.
Similar words
- graceful
- Emphasizes pleasing movement or shape rather than refined style.
- refined
- Emphasizes cultivated taste and polish rather than visual grace.
- stylish
- Emphasizes fashionable appearance, which need not be graceful or restrained.