elegance
gb/ˈɛləɡəns/ us/ˈɛləɡəns/
B1
English
~ 6900
elegancia, kecsesség, elegáns, letisztultság
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone]/[something] has an air of elegance
Her natural elegance made even a simple black dress look special.
Természetes eleganciájától még egy egyszerű fekete ruha is különlegesnek tűnt.
The restaurant combines modern design with old-world elegance.
Az étterem a modern dizájnt óvilági eleganciával ötvözi.
He thanked the audience with a bow that had real elegance and charm.
The room’s elegance comes from its clean lines and soft colors, not from expensive furniture.
Despite the chaos around her, she moved with calm elegance across the stage.
Learner examples
She walks with great elegance.
Nagyon elegánsan jár.
The hotel lobby has an air of elegance.
A szálloda előcsarnoka eleganciát áraszt.
His mother’s elegance impressed all of his friends.
The dress is simple, but it has real elegance.
Everyone admired the elegance of the bride.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"She is very elegance"* instead of *"She is very elegant"* (adjective) or *"She has a lot of elegance"* (noun). Remember: *elegant* describes a person or thing, and *elegance* is the quality. Another mistake is using *elegance* for anything expensive; something can be expensive but still lack elegance if it is loud or in bad taste.
Meaning
graceful, stylish appearance or manners
Collocations
understated elegance
|casual elegance
|simple elegance
|timeless elegance
|an air of elegance
|move with elegance
Synonyms
grace (Focuses more on smooth, controlled movement or behavior, not always on style or fashion.)
|
style (Broader and more casual; can refer to any way of dressing or doing things, not only refined or graceful ones.)
|
refinement (Suggests good taste and careful polish, especially in manners and lifestyle, sometimes more formal than 'elegance'.)
|
sophistication (Adds a sense of worldliness or high social status, not just graceful looks or movement.)
Antonyms
clumsiness (Opposite in terms of movement and behavior, suggesting a lack of grace or coordination.)
|
vulgarity (Opposite in terms of taste and style, suggesting something loud, cheap, or in bad taste instead of refined.)
|
awkwardness (Highlights uncomfortable or stiff movement or behavior, the reverse of smooth, easy elegance.)
Themes
appearance
|fashion
|social life
|art
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
|arts_entertainment
Definition
A smooth, beautiful, and stylish way of looking, moving, or acting.
The quality of being gracefully attractive and stylish in the way someone looks, moves, dresses, or behaves.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
2
Usage pattern:
the elegance of [a solution/idea/design]
Scientists praised the elegance of the new theory, which explained several problems at once.
A tudósok méltatták az új elmélet eleganciáját, mert egyszerre több problémára is magyarázatot adott.
The elegance of this algorithm is that it does the job in just a few clear steps.
Ennek az algoritmusnak az eleganciája abban rejlik, hogy mindössze néhány világos lépésben elvégzi a feladatot.
Good software architecture aims for both robustness and elegance.
Her proof had a surprising elegance, reducing a long argument to three short lines.
The elegance of the design lies in its complete lack of unnecessary parts.
Learner examples
My teacher liked the elegance of my solution.
A tanáromnak tetszett a megoldásom eleganciája.
The new app is simple, but it has great elegance in its design.
Az új alkalmazás egyszerű, de a kialakítása rendkívül elegáns.
Engineers talked about the elegance of this idea.
He tried to improve the elegance of his code.
We admired the elegance of the plan because it was clear and easy.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this sense of *elegance* is only about physical beauty or clothes. In technical or academic contexts, it describes how clear, simple, and effective an idea or solution is, not how it looks.
Meaning
simple yet highly effective design or idea
Collocations
the elegance of the solution
|mathematical elegance
|elegance of design
|conceptual elegance
|algorithmic elegance
Synonyms
simplicity (Focuses mainly on being easy or uncomplicated; does not always include the idea of being powerful or clever.)
|
neatness (Informal and often used in science or math to mean a clean, well-organized solution, similar to intellectual elegance.)
|
ingenuity (Emphasizes cleverness and creativity; does not necessarily imply being simple or minimal.)
|
efficiency (Highlights working well with little waste; may be practical rather than aesthetically pleasing, while 'elegance' combines both.)
Antonyms
complexity (Suggests that something is complicated or difficult to understand, opposite to the simple clarity in this sense of 'elegance'.)
|
clumsiness (Describes a solution or design that feels heavy, awkward, or poorly put together rather than smooth and elegant.)
|
inelegance (Direct opposite; used especially in technical or academic writing to mark a solution as lacking clean, simple beauty.)
Themes
science
|technology
|ideas
|education
Definition
The quality of an idea, plan, or answer that is easy to understand but also very smart and effective.
The quality of a plan, theory, design, or solution that is both simple and very effective or clever, often in a technical or intellectual context.
Grammar
Dictionary form
elegance
IPA
GB/ˈɛləɡəns/
US/ˈɛləɡəns/
Syllables & stress
el - eg - ance (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (el)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: elegance
- Plural: elegance
Word family
Expressions
a touch of elegance
1/ə tˈʌt͡ʃ əv ˈɛləɡəns/
fixed phrase
a small added bit of elegance
A little amount of style or luxury added to something to make it look or feel more elegant.
Examples
- Fresh flowers on the table add a touch of elegance to the room.
- She wore pearl earrings to give a touch of elegance to her simple outfit.
- The gold trim gives the menu a touch of elegance without being too much.
an air of elegance
1/ən ˈɛɹ əv ˈɛləɡəns/
fixed phrase
a general feeling of elegance
A general feeling or impression that a place, person, or thing is elegant.
Examples
- The candles and soft music gave the room an air of elegance.
- Even in jeans, she carries an air of elegance.
- Marble floors lend the entrance hall an air of elegance and formality.
casual elegance
1/kˈæʒuəl ˈɛləɡəns/
fixed phrase
relaxed yet stylish elegance
A way of dressing or decorating that looks relaxed and comfortable but also stylish and elegant.
Examples
- The restaurant aims for casual elegance, so jeans are fine but not sportswear.
- Her outfit had a casual elegance that was perfect for a weekend lunch.
- The living room mixes casual elegance with practical furniture for a family.
simple elegance
1/sˈɪmpəl ˈɛləɡəns/
fixed phrase
elegance created by simplicity
Elegance that comes from being clean, plain, and without many extra details.
Examples
- The simple elegance of the white dress made it stand out.
- Japanese design often focuses on simple elegance and natural materials.
- They chose a logo with simple elegance instead of something complex.
timeless elegance
1/tˈaɪmləs ˈɛləɡəns/
fixed phrase
elegance that never goes out of style
Elegance in clothes, design, or style that still looks good many years later and does not go out of fashion.
Examples
- The little black dress is often praised for its timeless elegance.
- The building’s timeless elegance makes it a city landmark.
- They wanted a wedding with timeless elegance, not a trend that would quickly look old.
understated elegance
1/ˈʌndɚstˌeɪtɪd ˈɛləɡəns/
fixed phrase
quiet, not flashy elegance
A kind of elegance that is simple and not flashy, but still very stylish and beautiful.
Examples
- The hotel’s rooms have an understated elegance, with soft colors and clean lines.
- She prefers understated elegance to bright colors and big logos.
- The film’s visual style was one of understated elegance rather than big effects.