elegance

noun

el·​e·​gance ˈe-li-gən(t)s How to pronounce elegance (audio)
1
a
: refined grace or dignified propriety : urbanity
b
: tasteful richness of design or ornamentation
the sumptuous elegance of the furnishings
c
: dignified gracefulness or restrained beauty of style : polish
the essay is marked by lucidity, wit, and elegance
d
: scientific precision, neatness, and simplicity
the elegance of a mathematical proof
2
: something that is elegant

Examples of elegance in a Sentence

the elegance of the hotel's French furnishings
Recent Examples on the Web Thomas’s late maternal grandmother, a living testament to ’40s, ’50s and ’60s elegance, left an indelible mark on the designer’s fashion sensibility. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 18 Mar. 2024 Dive into a collection where each piece narrates a saga of valor, elegance, and ecological consciousness. Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2024 This is great news for those looking to dress with both comfort and elegance in mind. Mayte Salido, Glamour, 15 Mar. 2024 Namely, Bey adhered to the idea that politics follows downstream from culture, a stance conveyed not through combativeness but elegance. Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024 Look 11 has all the drama and elegance appropriate for someone like Annette Bening or Meryl Streep, without sacrificing fun. Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2024 Casts featured a rapturous, sweeping Unity Phelan with Roman Mejia and, in a spectacular end-of-season debut, Indiana Woodward with Anthony Huxley, above, each a vision of elegance and luster. Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Tasting through eight wines—four white and four red—from village, Premier Cru, and Grand Cru appellations in the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, three words come to mind: elegance, freshness, and restraint. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2024 While coquette is defined by soft pastels, lace and pearls, romantic florals, and old English elegance, grunge coquette adds a jagged feel with darker colors, distressed details, and gothic accents. Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Mar. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1510, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of elegance was circa 1510

Dictionary Entries Near elegance

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

elegance

noun
el·​e·​gance ˈel-i-gən(t)s How to pronounce elegance (audio)
1
: gracefulness of style or movement
2
: decoration or design that is rich but in good taste

More from Merriam-Webster on elegance

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