What does phenomenal mean?
Phenomenal means extraordinarily good, impressive, or remarkable. Its everyday use is strongly complimentary: a performance, achievement, result, or experience can be called phenomenal when it is far better or more successful than expected. The word often carries an emphatic, enthusiastic tone, especially in informal speech, but it is also widely accepted in formal contexts. For example, a product may achieve phenomenal sales, while an artist may deliver a phenomenal performance. In specialist writing, phenomenal can also relate to a phenomenon, meaning an observable event or to the conditions through which a phenomenon is perceived. The adjective is related to phenomenon, the noun for something observed, and is especially useful when the ordinary word good does not convey the scale of the praise intended.
adjectiveExtraordinarily good, impressive, or remarkable. In specialist contexts, it can mean relating to a phenomenon or to the way something appears to an observer.
- Extraordinarily good, impressive, or remarkable.
- Very great in degree or significance.
- Relating to a phenomenon or to the conditions in which something is perceived.
"The young pianist gave a phenomenal performance that left the audience silent."
"The platform has had phenomenal success since its redesign."
"Her explanation provided phenomenal insight into a complicated historical problem."
A phenomenon is something observed; phenomenal describes something so striking that it seems worth observing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does phenomenal come from?
Phenomenal derives from phenomenon, which comes from Greek phainomenon, a form of phainesthai, “to appear” or “to be seen.” The Greek term passed through Latin and was adopted into English in the 17th century in the sense of an observable event or appearance. Phenomenal originally related to such appearances or phenomena, while its modern sense of “exceptionally remarkable” developed through the idea of something striking or noteworthy.
Related word forms
How phenomenal is actually used
Phenomenal is especially common in contemporary informal English as emphatic praise, as in “absolutely phenomenal.” It is also standard in formal writing, where outstanding, remarkable, or exceptional may be preferred for a less emphatic tone.
Easily confused with phenomenal
A phenomenon is an observable event or object, whereas phenomenal is normally an adjective meaning extraordinarily remarkable or impressive.