eclat
C2Formal/Literary
Definition
Meaning
Brilliant or conspicuous success; striking effect.
Social admiration or acclaim; a burst of applause or praise. Also, publicity or notoriety. In older/military use: a burst of action or conflict.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a combination of brilliant success and the resulting public acclaim or recognition. Carries a connotation of style, flair, and social approval. It is not typically used for quiet, private achievements.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling 'éclat' with an accent is more common in UK English, while 'eclat' is standard in US. Conceptually identical.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes sophistication and is used in formal/literary contexts. May be perceived as slightly more 'European' or archaic in general use.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in everyday speech in both varieties. More likely found in literary works, arts criticism, high-society journalism, or historical texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Verb + with + éclat (succeed with éclat)Noun + of + éclat (an affair of great éclat)Meet with + éclatVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To do something with great éclat”
- “To meet with éclat”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. 'The new product launch was conducted with considerable éclat.'
Academic
Rare in STEM; appears in humanities/literary criticism. 'The thesis was defended with great éclat.'
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- No standard verb form.
American English
- No standard verb form.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverb form.
American English
- No standard adverb form.
adjective
British English
- No standard adjective form.
American English
- No standard adjective form.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Her performance was a great success.
- He finished his speech to loud applause.
- The young pianist's debut was met with considerable éclat, earning her rave reviews.
- She carried off the difficult negotiation with great éclat, securing an excellent deal.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of ÉCLAIR: a fancy, flashy pastry. ÉCLAT is the fancy, flashy success or acclaim.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUCCESS IS LIGHT/BRIGHTNESS (brilliant success), SOCIAL APPROVAL IS APPLAUSE (burst of acclaim).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как 'вспышка' или 'взрыв' (кроме исторического контекста).
- Основное значение — блестящий успех и связанная с ним слава, а не просто 'успех'.
- Осторожно с ложным другом 'эклат' (устар., воен.) — стычка.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'eclant' or 'eclate'.
- Using it to describe a mundane achievement.
- Incorrect pronunciation: /ˈiːklæt/ or /ɛˈklæt/.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'éclat' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare, formal, and literary word. It is unlikely to be encountered in everyday conversation.
'Éclat' implies brilliant success and the resulting acclaim as a combined concept, often with a flair for the dramatic. 'Acclaim' focuses more on the praise itself.
It is pronounced /eɪˈklɑː/ (ay-KLAA), with the stress on the second syllable. The first syllable rhymes with 'say'.
In British English, 'éclat' is common. In American English, 'eclat' (without the accent) is the standard dictionary form. Both are correct.