luminous

1 of 2

adjective

lu·​mi·​nous ˈlü-mə-nəs 

1

a

: emitting or reflecting usually steady, suffused, or glowing light

… luminous objects—the nebula, the stars, the planets …

—Lincoln La Paz

b

: of or relating to light or to luminous flux

2

: bathed in or exposed to steady light

luminous with sunlight

3

: clear, enlightening

a luminous explanation

4

: shining, illustrious

a luminous film star

a luminous performance

luminously adverb

luminousness noun

luminousness

2 of 2

noun

lu·​mi·​nous·​ness

plural -es

: luminosity

Did you know?

Luminous, like its synonyms radiant, shining, glowing, and lustrous, is generally a positive adjective, especially when it describes something that doesn't literally glow, such as a face, a performance, or a poem. Luminous signs depend on a gas such as neon, krypton, argon, xenon, or radon—and you can use luminous (DayGlo) paint to make your own signs. New technologies have now given us luminous fabrics, which are being used to produce striking or creepy effects in clothing, upholstery, and interior surfaces.

Synonyms of luminous

Adjective

• glowing
• shining
• dazzling
• bright
• radiant
• shiny
• brilliant
• shimmering
• gleaming
• sparkling
• lustrous

Choose the Right Synonym for luminous

bright, brilliant, radiant, luminous, lustrous mean shining or glowing with light.

bright implies emitting or reflecting a high degree of light.

brilliant implies intense often sparkling brightness.

radiant stresses the emission or seeming emission of rays of light.

luminous implies emission of steady, suffused, glowing light by reflection or in surrounding darkness.

lustrous stresses an even, rich light from a surface that reflects brightly without glittering.

Examples of luminous in a Sentence

Adjective

I saw the cat's luminous eyes in my car's headlights.

a watch with a luminous dial

The room was luminous with sunlight.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Having introduced that fiercely luminous piece in 2023, Dudamel brought it back in March, placing it on the second half of a concert that began with Beethoven’s Seventh. —Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026

Meteors, sometimes poetically, if not terribly accurately, called shooting stars, are the luminous displays that occur when cosmic debris—usually small bits of rock or metal—hits Earth’s air. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 12 June 2026

This is one of Hockney’s most iconic paintings — a large-scale image of a luminous blue swimming pool marked by a diver’s splash. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026

That’s why its Limited-Edition FIFA World Cup 2026 bottle of Don Julio 1942, while maintaining its classic tall shape, resembles the World Cup trophy itself with its luminous gold-toned body and malachite closure, also likely sitting for generations on a memorabilia shelf. —Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English luminouse, luminose, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French luminous, borrowed from Latin lūminōsus "full of light, dazzling," from lūmin-, lūmen "light, source of light" + -ōsus -ous — more at lumen

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing luminous

• luminous energy
• luminous flux
• luminous paint
• self-luminous

Rhymes for luminous

• numinous
• albuminous
• aluminous
• bituminous
• leguminous
• voluminous
• subbituminous

Kids Definition

luminous

adjective

lu·​mi·​nous ˈlü-mə-nəs 

1

: giving off light : shining

2

: being lighted

a public square luminous with sunlight

3

: clear entry 1 sense 3

luminous writing

4

: illustrious

luminously adverb

luminousness noun

Medical Definition

luminous

adjective

lu·​mi·​nous ˈlü-mə-nəs 

1

: emitting or reflecting usually steady, suffused, or glowing light

2

: of or relating to light or to luminous flux