What does embonpoint mean?
Embonpoint is a formal, slightly playful English noun meaning pleasant plumpness or stoutness of the body — a fullness of figure viewed as a sign of health, prosperity, or attractiveness. Borrowed directly from French, where it literally translates as 'in good condition,' it entered English in the eighteenth century and retains its Gallic polish, appearing mostly in literary, historical, or humorous writing rather than casual conversation. Unlike blunter terms for fatness, embonpoint carries a complimentary connotation: one might admire the embonpoint of a well-fed cardinal in a portrait or note, with gentle irony, that a character has grown into a comfortable embonpoint in middle age. It functions as an uncountable noun, with no common plural or derived forms. For writers seeking an elegant, tongue-in-cheek alternative to 'plumpness' or 'corpulence,' embonpoint offers both precision and wit, though its rarity means it is best reserved for contexts where a touch of formality or irony is welcome.
nounPlumpness or stoutness of a person's figure, especially when regarded as attractive or healthy; a pleasing fullness of body.
- Pleasant plumpness or fullness of the human body, especially as a mark of health, prosperity, or beauty.
"The portrait captures the duchess in all her ample embonpoint, a fashion ideal of the eighteenth century."
"In his later years the diplomat acquired a certain embonpoint that suited his reputation for good living."
"Renaissance painters celebrated the embonpoint of their subjects as a sign of vitality and wealth."
Borrowed wholesale from French, embonpoint literally means 'in good condition' — so for centuries, calling someone plump was technically paying them a compliment.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of embonpoint
Embonpoint comes directly from French, where it originated as the phrase 'en bon point,' meaning 'in good condition' or 'in good shape' — a euphemistic way of describing someone who was comfortably well-fed. It was adopted into English during the eighteenth century, retaining its French spelling, pronunciation, and flattering tone. The word ultimately draws on the Latin root 'bonus,' meaning 'good,' which also gives us cognates such as 'bonhomie,' 'bona fide,' 'bonanza,' and 'bounty.'
How embonpoint is actually used
A formal, somewhat humorous or literary word borrowed from French; it is used appreciatively rather than insultingly, implying a comfortable, healthy stoutness rather than obesity. It is rare in everyday speech and typically found in descriptive or witty writing.
Easily confused with embonpoint
"En pointe" describes ballet dancing on the very tips of the toes, while "embonpoint" refers to plumpness of figure.