elegant

adjective

el·​e·​gant ˈe-li-gənt 

1

: marked by elegance

elegant clothes

an elegant solution

2

: of a high grade or quality : splendid

elegant gems priced at hundreds of thousands of dollars

elegantly adverb

Synonyms of elegant

• graceful
• handsome
• fine

Choose the Right Synonym for elegant

choice, exquisite, elegant, rare, delicate, dainty mean having qualities that appeal to a cultivated taste.

choice stresses preeminence in quality or kind.

choice fabric

exquisite implies a perfection in workmanship or design that appeals only to very sensitive taste.

an exquisite gold bracelet

elegant applies to what is rich and luxurious but restrained by good taste.

a sumptuous but elegant dining room

rare suggests an uncommon excellence.

rare beauty

delicate implies exquisiteness, subtlety, and fragility.

delicate craftsmanship

dainty sometimes carries an additional suggestion of smallness and of appeal to the eye or palate.

dainty sandwiches

Examples of elegant in a Sentence

an elegant solution to the problem

the most elegant First Lady in the nation's history

Recent Examples on the Web

Over time, their purpose evolved into an elegant way to conceal a naked body while changing or to cover up a room’s less appealing realities. — Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026

Tight jeans, dark T-shirt, but a sharp, elegant, mature style. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

The intricate diamond cuts and iconic Lismore pattern will cast elegant dapples of light across your table, while the weight of the crystal makes every clink feel even more satisfying. — Mina Dragani, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026

This sleek and elegant laptop boasts a rich OLED touchscreen with juicy hues and deep blacks, paired with a power-efficient Snapdragon X2 Elite processor and 32GB of system memory. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin elegant-, elegans; akin to Latin eligere to select — more at elect

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for elegant

• inelegant

Kids Definition

elegant

adjective

el·​e·​gant ˈel-i-gənt 

1

: having or showing elegance

2

: of excellent quality : splendid

elegantly adverb