brilliance

[ bril-yuhns ]

noun

1. great brightness; luster:

   the brilliance of a fine diamond.

   Synonyms: refulgence, effulgence, radiance

   Antonyms: dullness

2. excellence or distinction; conspicuous talent, mental ability, etc.

   Synonyms: illustriousness, genius, preeminence

   Antonyms: dullness

3. splendor, elegance, or magnificence:

   the brilliance of the court of Louis XIV.

4. Optics. that luminance of a body consisting of its saturation and brightness.

brilliance

/ ˈbrɪljəns /

noun

1. great brightness; radiance
2. excellence or distinction in physical or mental ability; exceptional talent
3. splendour; magnificence

   the brilliance of the royal court

4. physics a former term for luminance

Other Words From

• over·brilliance noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of brilliance¹

First recorded in 1745–55; brilli(ant) + -ance

Example Sentences

Despite flashes of brilliance as a rookie and a record-setting career at Ohio State, Dobbins was not a highly coveted commodity on the free-agent market.

From Los Angeles Times

But Dr Miron said while the Kursk incursion was a moment of “tactical brilliance” it has also been a “strategic catastrophe” for Ukraine.

From BBC

They were given a helping hand by a combination of a mix-up between the West Indies openers and brilliance in the field from Jacob Bethell to run out Shai Hope.

From BBC

Here are 10 songs that showcase his versatility and brilliance in the studio, and his ability to draw the best out of the musicians he worked with.

From BBC

Their work, expertise and talents so often led to box-office brilliance while personal lives were forced into the shadows, often at great cost.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cleverness
• excellence
• inspiration
• intelligence
• inventiveness
• talent
• wisdom

More About Brilliance

What does brilliance mean?

Brilliance commonly refers to the quality of extreme intelligence. People considered geniuses are often said to possess or display brilliance.

Brilliance is a noun form of the adjective brilliant, which commonly means extremely intelligent but can also mean outstanding, exceptional, or magnificent, as in a brilliant performance. 

These senses of brilliant are based on its more general meaning—shining brightly or sparkling. Bright sunshine can be described as brilliant in this way. A very sparkly gem such as a diamond could also be described as brilliant. Brilliance can be used in these contexts to refer to the brightness or sparkliness of such things.

Brilliant can also be used to mean vivid or vibrant. This sense of the word is especially used to describe colors and sounds that stand out due to being especially strong and clear. Brilliance refers to the quality of such things.

Example: I cannot overstate the brilliance of the performance—it was magnificent in every way.

Where does brilliance come from?

The first records of the word brilliance come from the mid-1700s. It’s a noun form of the adjective brilliant, which comes from the French brillant, meaning “shining,” from the French verb briller, “to shine.”

Brilliant was originally used as a way to describe things that literally shine or sparkle, such as the sun or a diamond. Eventually, it started to be used to describe people whose intellectual brilliance shines like the sun or a diamond.

Brilliant cut diamonds are those that are cut in a way that’s intended to maximize their brilliance—a large number of facets are added in order to better catch the light and reflect it back.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to brilliance?

• brilliant (adjective)

What are some synonyms for brilliance?

• brightness
• luster
• luminance
• luminosity
• radiance
• splendor
• magnificence

What are some words that share a root or word element with brilliance? 

• brilliancy
• brilliant cut

What are some words that often get used in discussing brilliance?

• shining
• sparkling
• light
• sun
• diamond
• mind
• idea

How is brilliance used in real life?

Brilliance is usually used in a positive way. It’s especially used in the context of very smart people and things that shine.

To increase the productivity of your team, lead by example, and allow others to step into their brilliance by empowering them.

— Neen James (@neenjames) August 12, 2014

Tiffany designers and craftspeople obsessively consider angles, proportion and symmetry to ensure a diamond’s brilliance changes the very energy of the room—regardless of its placement in a setting. Discover more: https://t.co/EJXwfd5J88 #TiffanyAndCo pic.twitter.com/g1RIUz4BwF

— Tiffany & Co. (@TiffanyAndCo) January 12, 2020

I can't wait to see #Logan again! The brilliance of the film is that it haunts you even after it ends. So much going on!

— Joshua Gannon (@blueyedguy86) March 11, 2017

 

 

Try using brilliance!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of brilliance?

A. luster
B. brightness
C. gloom
D. luminance