pulchritude
Say it: PUL-krih-tyood /ˈpʌlkrɪtjuːd/ · noun
What “pulchritude” means
Physical beauty.
More precisely: Physical beauty, used formally or humorously.
Example: “The dating show celebrates pulchritude far more than personality.”
When to use it
Use it for someone's physical beauty in very formal language or as a jokey, deliberately fancy compliment.
Memory trick
Latin “pulcher” means beautiful: the grand-sounding word simply points to physical beauty.
Similar words
beauty, loveliness, attractiveness
Where it comes from
Latin pulcher, 'beautiful'.
Quick check
A critic praises a portrait sitter's striking physical beauty, using an unusually grand word. Which word fits?
charisma or pulchritude?
Show the answer
pulchritude
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