éclat

American  

[ey-klah, ey-kla] / eɪˈklɑ, eɪˈkla /

noun

1. brilliance of success, reputation, etc..

   the éclat of a great achievement.

2. showy or elaborate display.

   a performance of great éclat.

3. acclamation; acclaim.

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éclat British  

/ eɪˈklɑː, ekla /

noun

1. brilliant or conspicuous success, effect, etc

2. showy display; ostentation

3. social distinction

4. approval; acclaim; applause

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Etymology

Origin of éclat

1665–75; < French: splinter, fragment, burst, flash, brilliance, Old French esclat, noun derivative of esclater to burst, break violently, probably < Old Low Franconian *slaitan to split, break (compare Old High German sleizan to tear), a causative of Germanic *slitan; slit

Explanation

When you do something with eclat, you do it with great style or an amazing effect. A skilled magician performs all of her tricks with eclat. Eclat is the gusto or flair with which you make an entrance at a party or sing a song at your school talent show. It's also a certain measure of success, especially the type that other people consider you to have — your skill on the soccer field might lend you a certain amount of eclat among your classmates, for example. The word eclat comes from the French éclat, which means "splinter or fragment," but also "flash of brilliance."

Example Sentences

Ford ends his appreciation with éclat, holding up the famous opening paragraphs of Great Expectations as the work of a “master stylist”.

From The Guardian • Jun. 9, 2020

When one hospital resident ruefully muses that “Heaven’ll be the same as Heathrow. There’ll be a VIP lounge,” the economic lunacy of our age is skewered with droll éclat.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 24, 2018

Nonetheless, France did manage a few moments of éclat et élan in that semifinal, and none were more breathtaking than Kylian Mbappé’s backheel.

From Slate • Jul. 14, 2018

Indeed, that the 500th anniversary of Luther’s act has been noted without éclat in the United States may be something to celebrate.

From Time • Oct. 30, 2017

But in the narrower field of Bath she expected to shine forth with greater éclat than in London, and to obtain admiration more worthy of her acceptance than any which a country circle could offer.

From Adeline Mowbray or, The Mother and Daughter by Opie, Amelia Alderson