Grandiose
/ˈɡræn.di.oʊs/noun
Impressively or showily great in size, style, or manner, often to an excessive degree.
Did you know?Grandiose comes through French from Latin roots tied to greatness, but English turned that grandeur into a subtle critique: not just big, but big in an overdone, theatrical way.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
grandis
“Large, great, or full-grown.”
Late Latin
Latin
grandiosus
“Large or grand in a physical or figurative sense.”
French
Old French
grandiose
“Grand, imposing, or splendid.”
18th Century
English
grandiose
“Pompous, showy, or extravagantly imposing.”
Modern English
English
grandiose
“Impressively or showily great, often to an excessive degree.”
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