triumphant

Triumphant is an adjective used to describe someone or something that has achieved victory or success and expresses or conveys jubilation about that achievement. It can describe feelings, appearances, events, or atmospheres that are characterized by celebration and pride. The word can modify a person (a triumphant athlete), a moment (a triumphant return), or an expression (a triumphant grin).

From Latin triumphatus, from triumphus; the term entered English via Old French triomphant or directly in the Middle Ages. Historically linked to Roman triumphs and public displays of victory, the word has retained connotations of public achievement and acclaim.

It is used in both literal and figurative contexts. Common collocations include triumphant return, triumphant procession, or triumphant music such as a triumphant fanfare. In rhetoric or literary analysis, the term can describe tone, mood, or storytelling that foregrounds victory. The word can carry positive connotations but can also convey pomp or triumphalism if used to exaggerate or boast.

Similar terms include victorious, exultant, jubilant, and conquering; antonyms include defeated, vanquished, unsuccessful, and failed. The adverb form is triumphantly.

In culture, “Triumphant” appears as a descriptor in titles and descriptions across films, songs, and literature, often signaling a narrative arc of overcoming adversity. The word is maintained as a common descriptive label in media and scholarly writing.