magnificent
Americanadjective
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making a splendid appearance or show; of exceptional beauty, size, etc..
a magnificent cathedral; magnificent scenery.
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extraordinarily fine; superb.
a magnificent opportunity; magnificent weather.
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noble; sublime.
a magnificent poem.
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(usually initial capital letter) (formerly used as a title of some rulers) great; grand.
Lorenzo the Magnificent.
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lavishly munificent; extravagant.
a magnificent inheritance.
adjective
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splendid or impressive in appearance
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superb or very fine
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(esp of ideas) noble or elevated
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archaic great or exalted in rank or action
Related Words
Magnificent, gorgeous, splendid, superb are terms of high admiration and all are used informally in weak exaggeration. Something that is magnificent is beautiful, princely, grand, or ostentatious: a magnificent display of paintings; a magnificent view of the harbor. That which is gorgeous moves one to admiration by the richness and (often colorful) variety of its effects: a gorgeous array of handsome gifts. That which is splendid is dazzling or impressive in its brilliance, radiance, or excellence: splendid jewels; a splendid body of scholars. That which is superb is above others in, or is of the highest degree of, excellence, elegance, or (less often, today) grandeur: a superb concert; superb wines.
Other Word Forms
- magnificently adverb
- magnificentness noun
- supermagnificent adjective
- supermagnificently adverb
Etymology
Origin of magnificent
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin magnificent-, stem of magnificentior “grander,” comparative of magnificus magnific
Explanation
The adjective magnificent describes something that has grandeur, like the magnificent Great Wall of China or the Pyramids, which usually inspire awe in the people who see them. The word magnificent comes from the 1510s, from the Old French word of the same spelling, meaning "doing great deeds." That's why rulers were often called "magnificent," though this adjective also describes things that are impressively large, like a magnificent volunteer force made up of thousands of people. Magnificent can also mean "absolutely excellent," like the magnificent play that everyone wants to see.
Vocabulary lists containing magnificent
English Words Derived from French, List 1
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Thumbs Up: Synonyms for "Good"
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That's Great!: Magn
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The last time he ran over the National fences, he eventually fell late, having mixed mistakes with magnificent jumping.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
Appropriately, “Unrolling Eternity” celebrates the ancient artists who created these magnificent “Books of the Dead” alongside the present-day conservators who have resurrected them.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026
At night, the bridge offers magnificent views of downtown lights.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
“Grand and lavish, this limestone townhouse, on a highly coveted block known for its magnificent residences, is truly unparalleled,” it stated, noting that the property was “designed for luxurious living and the highest caliber entertaining.”
From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026
They came at last to a magnificent house with a large lawn and a drive that curved up to the front door.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
