phenomenal
fih-NO-mih-nuhl
Phenomenal (adjective) means Extremely impressive or remarkable. Example: “She gave a phenomenal performance in the final.”
adjective
1
Extremely impressive or remarkable.
"She gave a phenomenal performance in the final."
"The view from the summit was phenomenal."
"The team made phenomenal progress after only a few weeks of training."
2
Relating to phenomena — things known through the senses rather than through pure reasoning.
"Philosophers distinguish the phenomenal world from things as they truly are."
"The essay compared the phenomenal realm of colours and sounds with abstract ideas."
"In his theory, phenomenal knowledge comes only from what we see, hear and touch."
How to use phenomenal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExtremely impressive, or (in philosophy) relating to what can be observed through the senses.
Common pairings
phenomenal success
phenomenal talent
phenomenal growth
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more phenomenal
- Superlative
- most phenomenal
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She gave a _____ performance in the final.
Etymology
Built from "phenomenon" plus the adjective ending "-al," following the pattern of French phénoménal.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for phenomenal
See all rhymes for phenomenal →Frequently asked questions
What does “phenomenal” mean?
The word “phenomenal” means extremely impressive or remarkable. In plain terms, extremely impressive, or (in philosophy) relating to what can be observed through the senses.
How do you pronounce “phenomenal”?
“Phenomenal” is pronounced fih-NO-mih-nuhl (/fɪˈnɑmɪnəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “phenomenal” in a sentence?
Here is “phenomenal” used in a sentence: “She gave a phenomenal performance in the final.”
What part of speech is “phenomenal”?
“Phenomenal” is an adjective.
Where does the word “phenomenal” come from?
The word “phenomenal” comes from French. Built from "phenomenon" plus the adjective ending "-al," following the pattern of French phénoménal.
Is “phenomenal” a common word?
“Phenomenal” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “phenomenal” have?
“Phenomenal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely impressive or remarkable.
What is the difference between phenomenal and phenomenon?
Phenomenal is an adjective, while phenomenon is a noun. Phenomenal describes something as extremely impressive or remarkable, or as relating to phenomena, whereas phenomenon names an observable fact, event, or occurrence itself.
Is phenomenal formal or informal?
Phenomenal works in both formal and informal contexts. In everyday speech it commonly means extremely impressive or remarkable, such as a phenomenal performance, while in more technical or academic writing it can carry its other sense, relating to phenomena known through the senses rather than pure reasoning.
What does phenomenal mean in philosophy?
In a philosophical context, phenomenal relates to phenomena, meaning things known through the senses rather than through pure reasoning. This sense is distinct from the everyday meaning of phenomenal as extremely impressive or remarkable.
