Tasteful

/ˈteɪstfəl/ adjective

Definition

Showing good judgment about what looks, sounds, or feels attractive and appropriate; not overdone or trashy.

Etymology

Tasteful comes from 'taste,' which originally meant the sense of flavor but evolved to mean 'good judgment' or 'aesthetic sense' by the 1600s. Adding '-ful' means 'full of' taste or judgment.

Kelly Says

Your sense of taste for art and fashion actually comes from learning what others around you appreciate—it's not something you're born with, which is why 'tasteful' can seem different across cultures and generations.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.