Aplomb
noun /əˈplɒm/ — Self-possession so complete it looks like calm.
Definition
Self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a difficult situation; the poise and steadiness of someone who cannot be rattled.
Beyond the definition
Aplomb is equanimity under fire — not just calmness, but the particular confidence that comes from knowing who you are in a room. The person with aplomb doesn't need reassurance; they are the reassurance.
Origin & history
From French à plomb — according to the plumb line (plomb 'lead'). A plumb line always finds true vertical. Aplomb is the social equivalent — always finding true.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She handled the unexpected question with aplomb — nothing in her expression gave way.
The kind of aplomb that makes a room settle is not taught; it's earned.
He arrived late to his own speech and began with such aplomb that no one minded.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Aplomb” when the meaning fits your context: Self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a difficult situation; the poise and steadiness of someone who cannot be rattled.
Synonyms
poise, composure, self-assurance, confidence, equanimity
Antonyms
flustered, rattled, uncertain
Related words
Aplomb vs composure
Aplomb is a state of confident, self-assured poise, especially when under pressure. Composure is a calmer, more neutral state of being in control of one's outward emotions.
Word in the Wild
Illustrative story: an imagined scene, not a documented event or interview.
The presentation had not been planned for this room. The projector failed in the first thirty seconds. The slides were gone.
She paused, smiled at no one in particular, and said: "Well. That was the easy version. Let me tell you what I actually think."
She spoke for forty minutes without notes. It was the best version of the talk she had ever given. Afterwards someone asked how she had managed to look so unshaken. She thought about it. "I've given this talk so many times I'd forgotten I knew it," she said. "The slides were covering the actual thing."
Questions about this word
What does "Aplomb" mean?
Aplomb is noun meaning: Self-possession so complete it looks like calm.. Self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a difficult situation; the poise and steadiness of someone who cannot be rattled.
Which words express “calm under pressure”?
Aplomb — Self-possession so complete it looks like calm.
Where does the word "Aplomb" come from?
From French à plomb — according to the plumb line (plomb 'lead'). A plumb line always finds true vertical. Aplomb is the social equivalent — always finding true.