frappante

Frappante is a feminine adjective in French meaning striking, noticeable, or impressive, typically used to describe something that makes a strong impression. The masculine form is frappant. The word derives from the verb frapper, to strike, with the adjectival suffix -ant, indicating that something “strikes” attention or perception.

In usage, frappante conveys perceptible impact—whether visual, auditory, or conceptual—and can describe events, data, individuals, or styles. It is common in journalism, literary criticism, and everyday speech. For example, one might speak of une différence frappante (a striking difference) or un chiffre frappant (a striking figure). The feminine form agrees with feminine nouns, as in une affirmation frappante or une différence frappante.

In other languages, similar ideas are expressed with different terms, and frappante is primarily a French formation. The exact spelling and frequency may vary outside French contexts, where native speakers might opt for alternatives such as striking, notable, or impactante in languages like Spanish or Portuguese, depending on style and register.

Etymology: from Old French frapper “to strike” and the adjectival suffix -ant, yielding a compound sense of something that visually or intellectually “strikes” the observer.

See also: frappant, frapper, striking (linguistic usage).