Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Characterized by grandeur; magnificent, brilliant, or glorious: Used to describe something that is extremely impressive, beautiful, or grand in appearance.
   • Very good; of the highest quality; excellent: Used to describe something that is extremely good, praiseworthy, or first-rate.
   • Having great beauty and splendor; resplendent: Used to describe something that is visually stunning, radiant, or dazzling.

Usage Examples

• Describing grandeur or magnificence:
  • The king lived in a splendid palace.
  • They celebrated with a splendid coronation ceremony.
• Describing excellent quality:
  • She gave a splendid speech that moved the entire audience.
  • He is a splendid teacher who inspires his students.
• Describing great beauty:
  • We watched the splendid sunset over the ocean.
  • The actors wore splendid costumes for the performance.

Advanced Usage

• "Splendid isolation": A historical term describing a country's policy of avoiding alliances or involvement in international affairs, often used to describe 19th-century Britain. It emphasizes a grand or proud aloofness.
  • The nation pursued a policy of splendid isolation for decades.
• Used as an exclamation (chiefly British, somewhat formal/old-fashioned): To express enthusiastic approval, meaning "excellent" or "very good."
  • "You're coming to the party? Splendid!"

Variants and Related Words

• Splendidly (adverb): In a splendid manner.
  • The event was splendidly organized.
• Splendor (noun): Magnificent and splendid appearance; grandeur.
  • The splendor of the ancient ruins was breathtaking.
• Resplendent (adjective): Shining brilliantly; characterized by a splendid appearance.
  • The queen was resplendent in her jewels.

Synonyms

• Magnificent: Extremely beautiful, elaborate, or impressive.
• Excellent: Extremely good; outstanding.
• Glorious: Having, worthy of, or bringing fame or admiration; beautiful in a dramatic way.
• Superb: Excellent; of the highest quality.
• Grand: Magnificent and imposing in appearance, size, or style.

Idioms and Phrases

• A splendid time: An excellent or very enjoyable experience.
  • We all had a splendid time at the gala.
• In splendid form: Performing or behaving in an excellent or impressive manner.
  • The pianist was in splendid form during last night's concert.

Adjective

1. characterized by grandeur
   • the brilliant court life at Versailles
   • a glorious work of art
   • magnificent cathedrals
   • the splendid coronation ceremony
2. very good; of the highest quality
   • made an excellent speech
   • the school has excellent teachers
   • a first-class mind
3. having great beauty and splendor
   • a glorious spring morning
   • a glorious sunset
   • splendid costumes
   • a kind of splendiferous native simplicity