English Reference
Noun

coolness

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈkuɫnəs/ UK /kˈuːlnəs/ cool·ness UK spelling coolnesses

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.


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.


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.

This entry
Origin gmw-pro *kōlinassī
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated