iridescent

adjective

ir·​i·​des·​cent ˌir-ə-ˈde-sᵊnt How to pronounce iridescent (audio)
: having or exhibiting iridescence
iridescently adverb

Did you know?

Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow, took messages from Mount Olympus to earth, and from gods to mortals or other gods, using the rainbow as her stairway. Iridescence is thus the glowing, shifting, colorful quality of a rainbow, also seen in an opal, a light oil slick, a butterfly wing, or the mother-of-pearl that lines an oyster shell.

Examples of iridescent in a Sentence

an iridescent soap bubble
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sparkling birdcage dresses, sheer angelic pleats, and iridescent tulle bloomers are already walking during rehearsal on the runway against artist Rithika Merchant’s towering textile panels painted with botanical and mythological references. Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2025 Like with the Mercer Street store, the materiality is broadly industrial with bronze chosen for its minimalist qualities but rich patina that ages with time, and steel that has an iridescent effect in this space. Booth Moore, WWD, 23 Jan. 2025 Designers can integrate sculptural lighting fixtures, iridescent finishes and futuristic materials to craft spaces that are bold, imaginative and visually striking. Roger Sands, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025 Editors’ Picks The outstanding cast also included the blooming lyricism of the tenor Paul Appleby, the luxuriously cool soprano of Mikaela Bennett and the iridescent countertenor of Chuanyuan Liu as a monk and medium. Corinna Da Fonseca-Wollheim, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for iridescent 

Word History

Etymology

Greek īrid-, îris "rainbow, iridescent halo around the moon, a flame, etc." + -escent — more at iris entry 1

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of iridescent was in 1796

Dictionary Entries Near iridescent

Cite this Entry

“Iridescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iridescent. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

iridescent

adjective
ir·​i·​des·​cent ˌir-ə-ˈdes-ᵊnt How to pronounce iridescent (audio)
: having or showing iridescence
iridescently adverb

Medical Definition

iridescent

adjective
ir·​i·​des·​cent ˌir-ə-ˈdes-ᵊnt How to pronounce iridescent (audio)
: having or exhibiting a display of colors producing rainbow effects
iridescence noun

More from Merriam-Webster on iridescent

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