French word

mondain

Pronunciation

IPA/mɔ̃dɛ̃/

Meaning

  • adjectivehigh-society

Example

Elle apprécie la vie mondaine.

She enjoys life in high society.

Illustration for mondain (high-society)

More examples

La presse parle souvent des cercles mondains.

The press often talks about high-society circles.

Core concept

A polished social world where status, etiquette, and appearances shape public life.

Common phrases

  • vie mondaine

    high-society life

  • soirée mondaine

    high-society evening party

  • fête mondaine

    high-society party

Similar words

chic: Stylish and fashionable, with a noticeable sense of flair.
élégant: Tasteful and graceful in appearance, dress, or manner.
raffiné: Highly refined, with careful attention to subtle details of taste and conduct.

Definition in French

Qui décrit un milieu mondain marqué par les apparences, les conventions sociales et les réceptions.

Word origin

French mondain combines monde, meaning world or society, with the adjective suffix -ain, while monde ultimately comes from Latin mundus.

Usage tips

  • English mundane usually means ordinary or dull, not socially sophisticated, so it is not a reliable translation of mondain in this sense.

Other meanings

  • fashionableadjective
  • worldlyadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word