Quick answer
Elation means great joy, uplift, or excited happiness. It is usually pronounced ee-LAY-shun, and today it is still readable to modern audiences, even if it sounds more deliberate than everyday speech.
Word page
Elation
Elation means great joy, uplift, or excited happiness. It belongs to emotions and peculiar mind states and works best in feelings, moods, and those oddly specific mental states that plain vocabulary misses. It still feels usable today, especially when you want a word with more character than the plainest alternative.
At a glance
emotionsmind-stateexpressive
How to say it
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, elation refers to great joy, uplift, or excited happiness. It is most useful when a plain label would tell the truth but miss the tone, flavor, or comic edge.
Why this word feels absurd
Elation feels absurd because it has more texture than the plain alternative, giving the idea an extra bit of theatrical, comic, or overbuilt energy.
Origin and history
Elation is generally traced to origin uncertain. In modern use, the history matters less than the strong tone the word still carries.
Is this word still used today?
Elation is still usable today, especially when you want language that feels more distinctive than the plainest modern alternative.
Example sentences
- The column dismissed the whole rumor as elation.
- In the novel, one elation is enough to derail the dinner party.
- She used elation in the essay because the plain modern word felt too bland.
- The teacher paused to explain elation before asking the class to use it in context.
- They kept repeating elation because the sound of it was almost as memorable as the meaning.
When should you use this word?
Use elation when you want a more vivid, characterful choice than the plain everyday alternative. It works especially well in feelings, moods, and those oddly specific mental states that plain vocabulary misses.
Similar words
addled, agita, angst, befogged, besotted
Opposite or contrasting words
calm, ease, composure
Common questions
- What does elation mean? great joy, uplift, or excited happiness.
- How do you pronounce elation? It is commonly pronounced ee-LAY-shun.
- Is elation still used today? Elation is still usable today, especially when you want language that feels more distinctive than the plainest modern alternative.
- When should you use elation? Use elation when you want a more vivid, characterful choice than the plain everyday alternative. It works especially well in feelings, moods, and those oddly specific mental states that plain vocabulary misses.
- What words are similar to elation? Similar words include addled, agita, angst, and befogged.
Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 9, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.