English Reference
adjective

splendid

adj.
US /ˈspɫɛndɪd/ UK /splˈɛndɪd/ splen·did

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate British English

    extremely good, impressive, or satisfying.

    excellent, brilliant, or of a very high standard. Often used to express enthusiastic approval.

    Simple

    We had a splendid time at the garden party last Saturday.

    In context

    The team's performance was truly splendid, demonstrating a level of technical skill that far exceeded the expectations of the critics.

    Usage

    Commonly used in British English to express polite but high praise.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    very beautiful, grand, or expensive-looking.

    possessing or displaying splendour; magnificent or sumptuous in appearance.

    Simple

    The palace was filled with splendid furniture and gold decorations.

    In context

    The cathedral's splendid architecture attracted thousands of visitors, all eager to witness the intricate stone carvings and stained glass.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Literary

    very bright and impressive to look at.

    shining or very bright; characterized by brilliant light.

    Simple

    The morning sun provided a splendid light for the photographers.

    In context

    The crown jewels were displayed under a splendid array of spotlights that highlighted every facet of the diamonds.

Eagleton is consoling here about the fact that when death arrives we probably won’t say the right or splendid thing.

The Guardian· 3 Sept 2026

From Latin splendidus, from splendere (“to shine”) + -idus (“adjective forming suffix”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated