noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

elegance

EHL-ih-guhns

Elegance (noun) means Graceful, refined beauty in appearance, movement, or manner. Example: “The dancer moved across the stage with effortless elegance.”

noun

Graceful, refined beauty in appearance, movement, or manner.

"The dancer moved across the stage with effortless elegance."

"Her elegance made even a simple black dress look stunning."

Simplicity and neatness in a solution, design, or idea, achieved without sacrificing precision.

"Mathematicians admired the elegance of the proof, which solved the problem in just three lines."

How to use elegance

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA quality of gracefulness or tasteful simplicity, whether in how someone carries themselves or how a problem is solved.

Common pairings

effortless elegance timeless elegance elegance of design

Word forms

elegances plural

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The dancer moved across the stage with effortless _____.

Etymology

From Middle French élégance, from Latin ēlegantia, meaning refinement or exquisiteness.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for elegance

lance dance Nance seance chance nuance trance stance glance balance advance finance

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Frequently asked questions

What does “elegance” mean?

The word “elegance” means graceful, refined beauty in appearance, movement, or manner. In plain terms, a quality of gracefulness or tasteful simplicity, whether in how someone carries themselves or how a problem is solved.

How do you pronounce “elegance”?

“Elegance” is pronounced EHL-ih-guhns (/ˈɛl.ɪ.ɡəns/ in IPA).

How do you use “elegance” in a sentence?

Here is “elegance” used in a sentence: “The dancer moved across the stage with effortless elegance.”

What part of speech is “elegance”?

“Elegance” is a noun.

Where does the word “elegance” come from?

The word “elegance” comes from Latin. From Middle French élégance, from Latin ēlegantia, meaning refinement or exquisiteness.

Is “elegance” a common word?

“Elegance” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “elegance” have?

“Elegance” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: graceful, refined beauty in appearance, movement, or manner.