éclairés

Éclairés is the plural masculine form of the French adjective éclairé, meaning "enlightened" or "illuminated." As a noun, an éclairé refers to an enlightened person, and the feminine forms are éclairée (singular) and éclairées (plural).

In historical and intellectual contexts, éclairés has been used to describe advocates of reason, science, and reform, associated with the broader European Enlightenment. Although the standard French term for the movement is Les Lumières, some writers and historians have used éclairés to emphasize the aspect of intellectual illumination or to designate reform-minded thinkers within society who challenged traditional authorities.

In religious or spiritual discourse, éclairé can denote someone believed to have received illumination through faith, study, or mystical experience. In modern sociopolitical language, éclairés may refer to an educated or intellectual elite—the idea of a segment of society perceived as possessing superior knowledge or judgment. The term can carry neutral, favorable, or critical connotations depending on context and stance toward reform or authority.

Usage notes:

- The feminine forms are éclairée (singular) and éclairées (plural).

- Éclairés is less common as a formal label than Les Lumières, but it appears in literary, historical, and critical writing to highlight the notion of illumination or enlightened thinking.

- The term should be interpreted from context, as it can describe individuals, groups, or broader cultural attitudes toward reason and knowledge.