What does elegantly mean?
Elegantly is an adverb describing action done with grace, refinement, and tasteful simplicity. It most commonly applies to appearance and behaviour — one may be elegantly dressed, elegantly seated, or move elegantly across a room — but it also has a valued second life in intellectual and technical contexts, where a proof, design, or solution is called elegant when it achieves its aim through striking economy and clarity. The word implies that true beauty lies in restraint rather than ornament: something done elegantly is never clumsy or excessive. Derived from the Latin eligere, meaning to select, it shares its root with words such as elect and select. Its connotations are almost entirely positive, signalling sophistication, polish, and effortless competence.
In a graceful, stylish, and tasteful manner.
"The hotel lobby was elegantly appointed with marble and brass."
In a way that is ingeniously simple and effective, especially of solutions, arguments, or designs.
"The algorithm solves the routing problem elegantly."
Elegant comes from the same Latin root as 'elect' — to be elegant is literally to be 'picked out' from the ordinary.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of elegantly
Elegantly derives from the adjective elegant, which entered English in the late fifteenth century from Latin elegans, meaning tasteful or choice. The Latin term traces back to the verb eligere, 'to pick out' or 'to choose', formed from e- ('out') and legere ('to gather, select'). This makes elegant a cousin of English words such as elect, select, and intellect, all built on the same root legere. The adverb elegantly followed naturally once the adjective was established.
Related word forms
How elegantly is actually used
Elegantly carries an approving connotation of refinement and restraint; it suggests beauty achieved through simplicity rather than excess. In technical writing it often praises efficiency — an elegantly designed system is one that achieves much with little.
Easily confused with elegantly
Eloquently means in a fluent and persuasive manner of speaking or writing, while elegantly means with graceful style or refined simplicity.