What does "renaissance" mean?
A rebirth or revival.
Renaissance
/ɹəˈneɪs(ə)ns/ adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A rebirth or revival.
- Grammar: renaissance is listed as adj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: rebirth, architecture, awakening, awakenings.
- Useful contrasts: decay, decline, declining.
- Usage evidence: The Renaissance established the dignity of man.
How to use "renaissance"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "renaissance" 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 "renaissance" 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
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Compare nearby meanings
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- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "renaissance" is acting as adj, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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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 A rebirth or revival.
"On the other hand, the nationalitarian phenomenon is one in which the struggle against the imperialist powers of occupation has as its object, beyond the clearing of the national territory, the independence and sovereignty of the national State, uprooting in depth the positions of the ex-colonial power— the reconquest of the power of decision in all domains of national life, the prelude to that reconquest of identity which is at the heart of the renaissance undertaken on the basis of fundamental national demands, and ceaselessly contested, by every means available, on every level, and notably on the internal level'."
- 2 Any similar artistic or intellectual revival. broadly
"the Harlem Renaissance"
- 3 the revival of learning and culture wordnet
- 4 Alternative letter-case form of Renaissance. alt-of, historical
Adjective
- 1 Of, or relating to the Renaissance. not-comparable
- 2 Of, or relating to the style of art or architecture of the Renaissance. not-comparable
Proper Noun
- 1 The 14th-century revival of classical art, architecture, literature and learning that originated in Italy and spread throughout Europe over the following two centuries. historical
- 2 The period of this revival, typically lasting from the late 14th to the late 16th centuries; the transition from medieval to modern times.
Example
"The Renaissance established the dignity of man."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "renaissance"?
Common synonyms include: rebirth, architecture, awakening, awakenings, awaking, baath.
How do you use "renaissance" in a sentence?
The Renaissance established the dignity of man.
How do you pronounce "renaissance"?
Pronounced /ɹəˈneɪs(ə)ns/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From French renaissance.
Etymology 2
Borrowed from French renaissance.