What does miraculous mean?
Miraculous is an adjective meaning extraordinary, astonishing, or connected with an event that seems beyond ordinary human explanation. It is commonly used to describe recoveries, escapes, cures, coincidences, and sudden transformations. In many contexts, the word is figurative rather than a literal claim about the supernatural: a miraculous comeback or a miraculous escape emphasizes how fortunate or unlikely the outcome was. The word carries a strong emotional charge, combining admiration, relief, and wonder. It is especially common in news reporting, personal accounts, and descriptions of medical progress, while somewhat more formal or dramatic than ordinary alternatives such as remarkable or extraordinary.
adjectiveCharacterized by an extraordinary or supernatural event; also used to describe something so remarkable that it seems almost impossible.
- Involving or resulting from a supernatural intervention or an event beyond ordinary human explanation.
- So remarkable, fortunate, or unexpected that it appears almost impossible.
"After weeks in critical condition, he made a miraculous recovery."
"The village was saved by a miraculous change in the weather."
"Her careful preparation led to a miraculous victory in the final race."
Miraculous comes from a family of words rooted in wonder: a miracle is an event that inspires awe, and miraculous describes what happens when the improbable becomes real.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does miraculous come from?
Miraculous entered English in the late Middle English period through Old French, ultimately deriving from Latin miraculōsus, a form of the adjective mirāculōsus meaning “wonderful” or “marvelous.” Its root was Latin mīrāculum, meaning “wonder” or “marvel,” and related forms include miracle, mirage, admire, and marvelous. The word originally referred especially to events perceived as supernatural wonders, while its modern use also extends to extraordinary good fortune or unexpected success.
Related word forms
How miraculous is actually used
The word is commonly used for both genuinely supernatural events and figuratively for extraordinary luck, recovery, or success. In figurative use, it often conveys admiration or relief and is more emphatic than simply saying that something was successful.
Easily confused with miraculous
A miracle is the extraordinary event itself, while miraculous is the adjective describing that event or something connected with it.