Aplomb

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /əˈplʌm/

Definitions

1. Complete assurance and composure, especially when facing a difficult or embarrassing situation
2. A state of calm self-confidence and graceful poise demonstrated when navigating challenging circumstances with unshakeable composure
3. Unflappable confidence and dignified composure maintained with ease during difficult or demanding situations

Etymology: The English word comes straight from French, where "aplomb" meant "plumb line" and, by extension, a state of being perfectly upright and steady. The French phrase "d'aplomb" carried the sense of standing or balancing squarely, as a builder's vertical line would. English borrowed the word without adapting its spelling or pronunciation, so it still looks and sounds French. The leap from a carpenter's tool to a personal quality is the heart of the story. A person who stands "plumb" is steady and unshaken, and that physical sense of balance gradually became a description of composure under pressure. Today the word describes calm self-assurance, especially when someone handles a difficult or awkward situation with apparent ease.

Synonyms: poise, composure, self-assurance, confidence

Antonyms: awkwardness, clumsiness, insecurity