What does marvellous mean?
Marvellous is an adjective meaning extraordinarily good, delightful, impressive, or worthy of wonder. It often carries an emphatic, emotionally positive tone: a marvellous meal, a marvellous performance, or simply “absolutely marvellous” can convey delight more strongly than merely “very good.” The word may also describe something surprising or extraordinary, especially in older or more literary usage, although that sense commonly overlaps with its modern praise of quality. Marvellous is the traditional British-English spelling; American English normally uses marvelous, though the British form is understood and occasionally used in the United States. The word is especially useful because it combines admiration with a sense of wonder, making it more vivid and enthusiastic than ordinary alternatives such as excellent. Its literary history and double-l spelling also make it recognizable as a distinctive marker of British usage.
adjectiveExtremely good, enjoyable, impressive, or worthy of admiration; wonderful.
- Extremely good, enjoyable, impressive, or worthy of admiration.
- Causing wonder or astonishment; remarkable or extraordinary.
"The sunrise over the bay was marvellous, turning the whole harbour gold."
"The sunrise over the bay was marvellous, turning the whole harbour gold."
"Her quick recovery was marvellous, and the family was relieved."
Marvellous reaches back to Latin mirabilis, meaning “wonderful” or “astonishing”—so the word has celebrated the extraordinary for centuries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does marvellous come from?
Marvellous entered English in the late Middle English period through an Anglo-Norman form derived from Latin mirabilis, meaning “wonderful” or “astonishing.” Its cognates include marvel, miracle, and miraculous, all associated with Latin mirari, “to wonder”; admire also belongs to this etymological family. The adjective is now chiefly associated with British spelling, while marvelous is the more usual American form.
Related word forms
How marvellous is actually used
Marvellous is standard in British English and is also understood in American English, where marvelous is much more common. It is an expressive adjective, often conveying stronger admiration or delight than very good.
Easily confused with marvellous
Marvellous is the traditional British spelling, whereas marvelous is the standard and more common spelling in American English.