What does curvaceous mean?
Curvaceous is an adjective describing something that has attractive, full, rounded curves — most often a person's figure, especially a woman's, but also objects such as cars, furniture, and buildings whose design favors graceful arcs over straight lines. The word carries a strongly positive, appreciative connotation: to call someone curvaceous is to praise their shape as appealing and sensuous rather than merely noting it. It entered English only in the early twentieth century, built from the Latin root curvus, meaning bent or curved, which also gives us words such as curvature and curvilinear. Because it implies an idealized, hourglass-like form, it appears frequently in fashion writing, celebrity commentary, and advertising, and it sits alongside synonyms such as shapely and voluptuous. Its opposite would be something angular or gaunt. While usually applied to bodies, its figurative use for sinuous design has grown steadily, making it a versatile word wherever flowing curves are admired.
(Of a person, especially a woman) having an attractively full, curvy figure.
"The actress was famous for her curvaceous silhouette."
Generally appreciative in tone, though context matters; best used respectfully.
(Of an object or design) having graceful, flowing curved lines or contours.
"The concept car boasted a low, curvaceous body."
A figurative extension common in automotive, architectural, and product-design writing.
Despite sounding centuries old, 'curvaceous' was only coined in the early 20th century — and it's essentially a glamorous spin on the plain Latin word for 'bent'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of curvaceous
Curvaceous derives from Latin curvus, meaning 'bent' or 'curved', via English 'curve'. It was coined in the early twentieth century, apparently as a playful blend-style formation combining 'curve' with the '-aceous' suffix pattern familiar from words like 'cretaceous', giving it an affectionately mock-scientific flavor. Words sharing the same Latin root include curvature, curvilinear, and concave. Despite its classical roots, it is a modern coinage with no long historical pedigree.
How curvaceous is actually used
Informal to semi-formal register; when applied to women it is generally appreciative but can be seen as objectifying depending on context. Increasingly used of cars, furniture, and architecture for their sweeping curves.
Easily confused with curvaceous
Cavernous means like a cavern — vast, hollow, or deep-set — while curvaceous means attractively rounded and curvy.