Meanings
plural brilliances · alternative brilliancy
- uncountableusuallyThe quality of being exceptionally effulgent (giving off light).
1 more example
[G]arishly enough they [gas jets] glared there, transparently wannish as it were shamed, like blinking night-things surprised by the brilliance of day, they having so flared and stared for months, or years, inasmuch as they were now blazing diminished, with streaks and rays in the flame, as if by effort: […]
1901, M[atthew] P[hipps] Shiel, The Purple Cloud, New York, N.Y.: Vanguard Press, published 1930, →OCLC, page 85 - uncountableusuallyThe quality of having extraordinary mental capacity.
- UKuncountableusuallyMagnificence; resplendence.
What brilliance it took from Harry Kane to control the cross and place the ball into the top corner.
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
nounthe quality of being magnificent or splendid or grand
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
From brilliant + -ance. Compare French brillance.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek λαμπρότης, αὐγή
- λαμπρότης (lamprótēs)The quality of being exceptionally effulgent
- αὐγή (augḗ)The quality of being exceptionally effulgent
Bulgarian интелигентност, блясък
- интелигентност (inteligentnost)The quality of having extraordinary mental capacity
- блясък (bljasăk)Magnificence; resplendence
- великолепие (velikolepie)Magnificence; resplendence
- яркост (jarkost)The quality of being exceptionally effulgent
- блясък (bljasăk)The quality of being exceptionally effulgent
Chinese Mandarin 辉
- 辉 (huī)The quality of being exceptionally effulgent
Czech genialita
- genialitaThe quality of having extraordinary mental capacity
Finnish etevyys, lahjakkuus
- etevyysThe quality of having extraordinary mental capacity
- lahjakkuusThe quality of having extraordinary mental capacity
- nerokkuusThe quality of having extraordinary mental capacity
- kirkkausThe quality of being exceptionally effulgent
German Brillanz
- BrillanzThe quality of having extraordinary mental capacity
Hindi प्रतिभा, महिमा
- प्रतिभा (pratibhā)The quality of having extraordinary mental capacity
- महिमा (mahimā)Magnificence; resplendence
- भव्यता (bhavyatā)Magnificence; resplendence
- प्रतिभा (pratibhā)The quality of being exceptionally effulgent
Polish błyskotliwość, błyskotność
- błyskotliwośćThe quality of having extraordinary mental capacity
- błyskotnośćThe quality of having extraordinary mental capacity
- blaskThe quality of being exceptionally effulgent
- świetlistośćThe quality of being exceptionally effulgent
Romanian genialitate, suprainteligență
- genialitateThe quality of having extraordinary mental capacity
- suprainteligențăThe quality of having extraordinary mental capacity
- inteligență genialăThe quality of having extraordinary mental capacity
- splendoareMagnificence; resplendence
- mărețieMagnificence; resplendence
- grandoareMagnificence; resplendence
- magnificențăMagnificence; resplendence
- strălucireThe quality of being exceptionally effulgent
Russian гениальность, великолепие
- гениальность (genialʹnostʹ)The quality of having extraordinary mental capacity
- великолепие (velikolepije)Magnificence; resplendence
- яркость (jarkostʹ)The quality of being exceptionally effulgent
- блеск (blesk)The quality of being exceptionally effulgent
Spanish brillantez, brillantez
- brillantezThe quality of having extraordinary mental capacity
- brillantezThe quality of being exceptionally effulgent
Cite this entry
brilliance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brilliance
“brilliance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brilliance. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “brilliance,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brilliance.
Source: brilliance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.