triumphal
Americanadjective
-
of, pertaining to, celebrating, or commemorating a triumph or victory.
a triumphal banquet; a triumphal ode.
adjective
-
celebrating a triumph
a triumphal procession
-
resembling triumph
Usage
What does triumphal mean? Triumphal means involving, relating to, or celebrating a triumph—an especially significant or noteworthy victory or success. In many cases, triumphal means about the same thing as the more commonly used triumphant—experiencing, celebrating, or having achieved a triumph. Triumph is also commonly used as a verb meaning to win, succeed, or be victorious in an epic or spectacular way. An army can triumph over enemy forces. In stories, good triumphs over evil. A person might be said to triumph over cancer. Triumphal is especially used in situations in which victory or success has come after great difficulty, adversity, or sacrifice, or over an opponent considered difficult to defeat. Sometimes, triumphal describes the state of joy or celebration following a victory or success that is considered a triumph, as in A triumphal feeling filled her as she realized she had won the election. Example: A triumphal victory parade has been planned to celebrate the championship.
Etymology
Origin of triumphal
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Latin word triumphālis. See triumph, -al 1
Vocabulary lists containing triumphal
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.
US President Donald Trump has said his proposed triumphal arch will double as a complex to store military equipment, complete with the ability to deploy snipers and drones.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
He also claimed Washington is the only one of the world’s “59 top cities and Capitals” without a triumphal arch.
From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2026
They include the southern coastal city of Tyre, home to a Roman triumphal arch and a second-century hippodrome.
From Barron's ● Aug. 29, 2026
It also served as a counteragent to one of American TV’s more triumphal moments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026
The trip became a triumphal procession as the slow-moving van was rocked by the crowd.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
