grandeur
Americannoun
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the quality or state of being impressive or awesome.
the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains.
-
the quality or state of being lofty or elevated in conception or treatment.
the grandeur of a prose style.
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the quality or state of being exalted in some deliberate way.
the grandeur of a royal court.
- Synonyms:
- splendor, pomp, majesty, stateliness
-
an instance of something that is grand.
the grandeurs of Rembrandt's paintings.
noun
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personal greatness, esp when based on dignity, character, or accomplishments
-
magnificence; splendour
-
pretentious or bombastic behaviour
Etymology
Origin of grandeur
1490–1500; < French, Old French, equivalent to grand- grand + -eur -or 1
Explanation
Use the noun grandeur to describe something that is splendid or magnificent, such as a lofty idea or an impressive building: “The gilded domes and ornate detail added to the grandeur of the church on Red Square.” Derived from the Old French word grand, meaning “great,” the word grandeur is used to describe things that are distinguished, extraordinary, and impressive in scope. Consider the French origins of grandeur as a clue and note that this is a fancy word, best saved for describing things that are truly magnificent on a large scale. The simple beauty of a shadow’s pattern on a sidewalk probably doesn’t have grandeur, but a sunset over the Rocky Mountains probably does.
Vocabulary lists containing grandeur
100 SAT Words Beginning with "G"
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Achievement First 7th Grade IA 1 Words
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To All the Boys I've Loved Before
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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.
Through stained-glass windows you can peer into the Victoria Baths and see the faded grandeur of a public pool Mancunians enjoyed for nearly a century - but you won't see any water in it now.
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026
A city park received a makeover, and the lobby of the Civic Theater was restored to its 1929 grandeur.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026
He packed oversight commissions with appointees who would rubber-stamp his delusions of grandeur and did the same with the Kennedy Center, whose new board promptly renamed the performing arts venue for him.
From Slate • May 18, 2026
However, Paine believes that even with the hard work and multiple projects the team juggles, the grandeur of the Oscars makes it “special to be part of.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026
To this day, the race, Doggett’s Coat and Badge, is still rowed on the Thames each July amid much ceremony and grandeur.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
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.
