What does exquisite mean?
Exquisite describes something of extraordinary beauty, delicacy, or craftsmanship — work so finely done that it seems beyond ordinary achievement. It can apply to physical objects (an exquisite porcelain vase), artistic performances (an exquisite rendition of a nocturne), or natural things (an exquisite sunset). A second, related sense applies to feelings rather than objects: an exquisite pleasure or an exquisite agony is one felt with unusual intensity and sharpness. The word derives from Latin exquisitus, meaning 'carefully sought out,' from exquirere, 'to search out' — so at its root, exquisite implies that something has been pursued and selected with great care, which suits its modern sense of refined perfection. In tone it is formal to neutral, carrying strong approval when applied to beauty and a more literary flavor when applied to sensations. Its adverbial and noun forms are exquisitely and exquisiteness. Because it signals both rarity and precision, exquisite remains a favorite of critics, writers, and anyone praising fine workmanship.
Extremely beautiful and delicate; made or executed with consummate skill and attention to detail.
"The bride wore an exquisite gown embroidered with seed pearls."
The dominant modern sense; strongly positive and slightly formal.
(Of a feeling or sensation) intense, acute, and keenly experienced.
"He felt exquisite relief when the results finally arrived."
Often paired with painful or bittersweet nouns; literary in register.
(Archaic) A person who is excessively fastidious or refined in matters of taste; a dandy.
"The novel satirized the exquisites who filled the fashionable salons of the 1820s."
Rare and dated; found mainly in 19th-century literature.
Exquisite originally meant 'carefully sought out' — from Latin exquirere, 'to search out thoroughly' — so calling something exquisite once literally meant you hunted for it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of exquisite
Exquisite comes from Latin exquisitus, the past participle of exquirere, formed from ex- ('out') plus quaerere ('to seek'), hence 'sought out with care.' It entered English in the late Middle Ages / early 16th century, first meaning 'carefully sought out' or 'precise,' then shifting toward its modern senses of refined beauty and acute feeling. It shares the Latin root quaerere ('to seek') with words such as inquiry, acquire, require, and quest.
Related word forms
How exquisite is actually used
Exquisite is a formal-to-neutral word with strongly positive connotations when describing beauty or craftsmanship. When applied to unpleasant sensations (exquisite pain, exquisite embarrassment), it carries a literary, slightly ironic register. The stress falls on the second syllable: ik-SKWIZ-it.
Easily confused with exquisite
Iniquitous means grossly unfair or wicked, while exquisite means beautifully made or intensely felt — the words share a distant Latin root (aequus, 'even/fair') but nothing else.