What does "elegant" mean?
An elegant parrot.
Elegant
/ˈɛl.ə.ɡənt/ adj, noun, slang
adj, noun, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An elegant parrot.
- Grammar: elegant is listed as adj, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: graceful, refined, admired, advantageous.
- Useful contrasts: awkward, awkward silences, awkwardest.
- Usage evidence: They could hear the elegant, flowing sound of a harp coming from somewhere.
How to use "elegant"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "elegant" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "elegant" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "elegant" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "elegant" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "elegant" is acting as adj, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "graceful" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "elegant", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An elegant parrot.
"But if the Aviarist be ambitious to keep the lovely, but destructive, members of the Parrot family, he must be content with grass alone, because Parrakeets (except the weak-billed Turquoisines and Elegants) would destroy the shrubs and trees in a day."
Adjective
- 1 Characterised by or exhibiting elegance; having grace, refinement, or tasteful simplicity.
"You could just use ordinary shop-bought kecap manis to marinade the meat, but making your own is easy, has a far more elegant fragrance and is, above all, such a great brag! Flavouring kecap manis is an intensely personal thing, so try this version now and next time cook the sauce down with crushed, split lemongrass and a shredded lime leaf."
- 2 Characterised by minimalism and intuitiveness while preserving exactness and precision.
"an elegant solution"
- 3 Fine; doing well. Ireland, archaic, colloquial
"'An' how are ye, Jemmie—how's every inch iv you?' enquired Moggy of the boy, when his agitation was a little blown over. 'I'm elegant, thank ye,' he answered; 'an' what's the matther wid ye all? I cum through the kitchen, and seen no one.'"
Adjective
- 1 refined and tasteful in appearance or behavior or style wordnet
- 2 displaying effortless beauty and simplicity in movement or execution wordnet
- 3 suggesting taste, ease, and wealth wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"They could hear the elegant, flowing sound of a harp coming from somewhere."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "elegant"?
Common synonyms include: graceful, refined, admired, advantageous, aesthetic, aesthetic descriptor.
How do you use "elegant" in a sentence?
They could hear the elegant, flowing sound of a harp coming from somewhere.
How do you pronounce "elegant"?
Pronounced /ˈɛl.ə.ɡənt/.
Etymology
From Late Middle English elegaunt, from Middle French elegant, ultimately from Latin ēlegāns.