Word
coolness
Phoneticscool·ness, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkuɫnəs/
UK/kˈuːlnəs/
Uncountable noun Informal
Definition
n. the quality of being very stylish, impressive, or attractive. You use this to describe someone or something that looks great and makes you feel good about yourself.
n. the quality of being stylish, impressive, or attractive. Informal in register; often used to describe a person's appearance, a piece of technology, or a specific attitude.
Examples
“The new phone has a lot of coolness.”
“The designer's latest collection was praised for its unique coolness and modern edge.”
“The brand's success was built on a calculated coolness that appealed to a generation seeking authenticity in a world of mass-produced goods.”
Examples
simple
“The new phone has a lot of coolness.”
contextual
“The designer's latest collection was praised for its unique coolness and modern edge.”
complex
“The brand's success was built on a calculated coolness that appealed to a generation seeking authenticity in a world of mass-produced goods.”
Real-World Examples
“Although Tellis' research found that consumers in all three countries recognized both personal and social forms of coolness, buyers were more motivated by one factor than the other.” “And while popular culture often suggests that coolness is mostly about impressing others, we find that consumers generally care more about how a product makes them feel than about what others think.” “While Pierre Bourdieu’s 1970s concept of cultural capital is not directly a theory on coolness, cultural and social assets both play into the notion of cool.” Etymology
From Middle English colnes, colnesse, from Old English cōlnes, cœ̄lnes, cēlnes (“coolness; cool air, breeze”), from Proto-West Germanic *kōlinassī, equivalent to cool + -ness. Cognate with Middle High German kuolnisse, küelnisse (“cooling, coolness”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/coolness