magnificence
Americannoun
-
the quality or state of being magnificent; splendor; grandeur; sublimity.
the magnificence of snow-covered mountains; the magnificence of his achievements.
- Synonyms:
- stateliness, nobility, majesty
-
impressiveness of surroundings.
the magnificence of Versailles.
- Synonyms:
- sumptuousness, opulence, luxuriousness
noun
Etymology
Origin of magnificence
1300–50; Middle English < Latin magnificentia, equivalent to magnificent- magnificent + -ia -y 3; -ence
Explanation
Magnificence is when something is incredibly grand, beautiful, or impressive. You might describe the magnificence of a cruise ship, for example, with its elaborate ballrooms and large swimming pools. When something makes a huge impression on you, especially for its hugeness or fanciness, it has the quality of magnificence. To a little kid, Disney World has magnificence, while an adult might be impressed by the magnificence of a first class European train car. In the fourteenth century, magnificence implied courage and nobility, as the word comes from the Latin root magnificus, which means both "great, noble, and eminent," and also "splendid, rich, or costly."
Vocabulary lists containing magnificence
That's Great!: Magn
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The Remains of the Day
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A Dance with Dragons
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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 movie purports to dip into the deep well of Shakespearean magnificence but emerges only with a ladle full of greasy schmaltz.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025
Crowds hoot and cheer as the contraptions float into the darkening sky, while referees judge the magnificence of their aerial explosions.
From Barron's • Nov. 1, 2025
Rodrigues sunk to the ground in exhaustion once Amanjot Kaur hit the winning boundary, unable to contain the tears as the magnificence of her achievement hit home.
From BBC • Oct. 30, 2025
People want to be dazzled by the spectacle of a feature so grand that they can’t help but be awestruck by the magnificence of its existence.
From Salon • May 24, 2025
Awed by its magnificence, fearful of the supernatural powers controlled by its priesthood, local rulers subordinated themselves.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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.
