Definitions
01graceful and stylish
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. graceful and attractive in appearance or behaviour.
adj. characterised by grace, refinement, or tasteful beauty in appearance, movement, or manner.
日本語:優雅※
“She wore an elegant black dress to the wedding reception.”
“The hotel lobby was decorated in an elegant style, featuring marble floors and understated lighting that created a sophisticated atmosphere.”
Synonyms
02simple and clever
C1 · Advanced Science Academic · Technical
adj. describing a solution or idea that is simple, clever, and works perfectly.
adj. characterised by minimalism and intuitiveness while maintaining precision; often used of mathematical proofs or software code.
日本語:エレガント※
“The scientist found an elegant way to solve the difficult problem.”
“The programmer was praised for her elegant solution, which reduced the complex algorithm to just three lines of highly efficient code.”
Usage
Often used to praise the efficiency of a design or a logical argument.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “elegant” in context.
Verb
01. find an elegant way
“We need to find an elegant way to tell the guests that the event has been postponed.”
verb + adj + noun
02. look elegant
“The dining room looked elegant with the candles lit and the silver polished.”
verb + adj
Adjective
03. elegant prose
“Critics praised the author for her elegant prose and vivid descriptions of the countryside.”
adj + noun
04. elegant solution
“The engineer proposed an elegant solution that fixed the problem without increasing costs.”
adj + noun
05. elegant to look at
“The new bridge is not only functional but also very elegant to look at.”
adj + infinitive
Adverb
06. effortlessly elegant
“She looked effortlessly elegant in a simple black dress and a pearl necklace.”
adv + adj
07. understatedly elegant
“The hotel lobby was understatedly elegant, featuring neutral tones and minimalist furniture.”
adv + adj
Real-World Examples
“She was still a very elegant lady, very smartly dressed.” “Tracey Dee is an elegant, softly spoken woman with thick, dark hair and candy-pink lipstick.” Etymology
From Late Middle English elegaunt, from Middle French elegant, ultimately from Latin ēlegāns.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/elegant
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0