Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

brilliance

/ˈbɹɪljən(t)s/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.39 in modern English

Syllables: bril-liance
IPA: /ˈbɹɪljən(t)s/

14

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The quality of being exceptionally effulgent (giving off light).

Uncountable

noun

The quality of having extraordinary mental capacity.

Uncountable

noun

Magnificence; resplendence.

British usage; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"[G]arishly enough they [gas jets] glared there, transparently wannish as it were shamed, like blinking night-things surprised by the brilliance of day, they having so flared and stared for months, or years, inasmuch as they were now blazing diminished, with streaks and rays in the flame, as if by effort: […]"
"What brilliance it took from Harry Kane to control the cross and place the ball into the top corner."

Etymology

From brilliant + -ance. Compare French brillance.

Word Breakdown

Suffix: brilliant

Usage

Uncountable
British usage

Inflected Forms

brilliances (plural) brilliancy (alternative)

Derived Forms

overbrilliance superbrilliance

Frequently Paired Words

brilliant brilliantly brilliantness beryl beryllium

Synonyms

magnificence splendor splendour grandeur grandness glare blaze genius

Questions

How do you pronounce brilliance?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbɹɪljən(t)s/.
What does brilliance mean?: The quality of being exceptionally effulgent (giving off light).
Where does brilliance come from?: From brilliant + -ance. Compare French brillance.

How to pronounce brilliance

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “brilliance”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈbɹɪljən(t)s/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “brilliance”.
Repeat and practice — Say “brilliance” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.