Very bright and shiny; or extremely clever, impressive, or successful.
From French “brillant,” the present participle of “briller,” meaning “to shine,” from Latin “beryllus,” a type of bright gemstone. The leap from shining stones to shining intellect came later.
“Brilliant” started as a jewelry word before it became an intelligence word. When you call an idea brilliant, you’re secretly comparing it to a gemstone flashing in the light.
“Brilliant” has historically been reserved more often for men in academic, scientific, and artistic contexts, while women’s work was labeled as “diligent” or “talented” rather than brilliant. This contributed to a gendered stereotype that exceptional genius is male.
Apply “brilliant” equitably to people of all genders when their work merits it, especially in fields where women and non-binary people have been under-credited. Avoid using it only for charisma or appearance when describing women.
["exceptional","outstanding","ingenious","remarkable"]
Numerous brilliant women—such as mathematicians, programmers, and artists—had their work attributed to male colleagues or were framed as assistants rather than originators.
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