phenomenal

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UK/fɪˈnɒmɪnəl/UK/fə-/Canada, US/fɪˈnɑmɪnəl/Australia/fɪˈnɔmɪnəl/

adjective

Very remarkable; highly extraordinary; amazing.

“phenomenal effort”

Similar
awesomefantasticgrandhowlingmarvelousmarvellousrattlingterrific
OriginFrench phénoména ← Ancient Greek φαινόμενον (phainómenon) ← Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? →
Less commonScrabble 17
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Meanings

adjectivephenomenal (comparative more phenomenal, superlative most phenomenal)

comparative more phenomenal · superlative most phenomenal · alternative phænomenal

  1. colloquialVery remarkable; highly extraordinary; amazing.

    phenomenal effort

    4 more examples

    phenomenal musician

    phenomenal success

    phenomenal victory

    But he added: "In many places it is likely that battery-electric trains and partial electrification will be more cost-effective than full electrification," describing the costs of full electrification as "phenomenal" while battery costs fall.

    2025 November 26, David Stubbings, “Rolling stock strategy 'will give clarity'”, in RAIL, number 1049, page 7

    Synonyms: awesome

  2. sciencesPerceptible by the senses through immediate experience.
  3. human sciencesOf or pertaining to the appearance of the world, as opposed to the ultimate nature of the world as it is in itself.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveVery remarkable; highly extraordinary; amazing.

Similar
awesome

More synonyms by meaning

adjectiveextraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

Similar
fantasticgrandhowlingmarvelousmarvellousrattlingterrifictremendouswonderfulwondrousextraordinary
Also see
astoundingawesomeexcellentfantasticgoodgrandhowlingmarvellousmarvelousosmrattlingterrifictremendouswonderfulwondrous

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰh₂nyéti
  3. Proto-Hellenic*pʰáňňō
  4. Ancient Greekφαίνω (phaínō)
  5. Ancient Greekφαινόμενον (phainómenon)
  6. Late Latinphaenomenon
  7. Englishphenomenon
  8. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
  9. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
  10. Ancient Greekφαινόμενον (phainómenon)
  11. Frenchphénomène
  12. Frenchphénoména
  13. Englishphenomenal

From phenomenon + -al, after French phénoménal.

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian забележителен, необикновен
  • забележителен (zabeležitelen)remarkable
  • необикновен (neobiknoven)remarkable
  • осезаем (osezaem)sciences: perceptible
Catalan fenomenal, fenomènic
  • fenomenalremarkable
  • fenomènicsciences: perceptible
  • fenomènicphilosophy: pertaining to the appearance of the world
Chinese Mandarin 現象級 /现象级, 非凡的
  • 現象級 /现象级 (xiànxiàngjí)remarkable
  • 非凡的 (fēifán de)remarkable
  • 感性的 (gǎnxìng de)sciences: perceptible
  • 現象的 /现象的 (xiànxiàng de)philosophy: pertaining to the appearance of the world
Finnish ilmiömäinen, havaittava
  • ilmiömäinenremarkable
  • havaittavasciences: perceptible
  • fenomenaalinenphilosophy: pertaining to the appearance of the world
French phénoménal
  • phénoménalremarkable
German phänomenal
  • phänomenalremarkable
Hungarian fenomenális
  • fenomenálisremarkable
Indonesian fenomenal
  • fenomenalremarkable
Italian fenomenale
  • fenomenaleremarkable
Japanese 驚異的な
  • 驚異的な (kyōiteki na)remarkable
Korean 경이적인
  • 경이적인 (gyeong'ijeogin)remarkable
Polish fenomenalny, niezwykły
  • fenomenalnyremarkable
  • niezwykłyremarkable
  • arcydobryremarkable
Portuguese fenomenal
  • fenomenalremarkable
Romanian fenomenal
  • fenomenalremarkable
Russian феномена́льный, необыкнове́нный
  • феномена́льный (fenomenálʹnyj)remarkable
  • необыкнове́нный (neobyknovénnyj)remarkable
Spanish fenomenal
  • fenomenalremarkable
Turkish fenomenal
  • fenomenalremarkable
Cite this entry
APA

phenomenal. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phenomenal

MLA

“phenomenal.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phenomenal. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “phenomenal,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phenomenal.

Source: phenomenal on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.