magnificent
Americanadjective
-
making a splendid appearance or show; of exceptional beauty, size, etc..
a magnificent cathedral; magnificent scenery.
-
extraordinarily fine; superb.
a magnificent opportunity; magnificent weather.
-
noble; sublime.
a magnificent poem.
-
(usually initial capital letter) (formerly used as a title of some rulers) great; grand.
Lorenzo the Magnificent.
-
lavishly munificent; extravagant.
a magnificent inheritance.
adjective
-
splendid or impressive in appearance
-
superb or very fine
-
(esp of ideas) noble or elevated
-
archaic great or exalted in rank or action
Synonym Usage
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
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Thumbs Up: Synonyms for "Good"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
That's Great!: Magn
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
James, along with Sawitskas and his pals, want the carousel to be restored to its original glory, a magnificent, gleaming merry-go-round that inspired Disney to dream.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
Ms. Browne’s magnificent life of the naturalist, originally published in two volumes in 1995 and 2002, is now available in a shortened and updated version.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
However, he did get a chance to update the estate into the magnificent abode it is today.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026
To add salt, it was a magnificent strike after a counter-attack that exposed Celtic in the most embarrassing way.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
The peaks tower over the cabin, making it like a jewel in a giant, magnificent setting.
From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
