fluorescent

adjective

fluo·​res·​cent flu̇-ˈre-sᵊnt 

flȯ-

1

: having or relating to fluorescence

2

: bright and glowing as a result of fluorescence

fluorescent inks

broadly : very bright in color

fluorescent noun

fluorescently adverb

Examples of fluorescent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On a walk through a car park in London’s Barbican Estate, on her way to the apartment of a hookup, Fedorova notices in striking detail the sound of the ventilation system, the fluorescent light patterns, and the scent of damp concrete. —Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026

But after nearly two decades of hard work, conservationists are finally reintroducing a new generation of the tiny, fluorescent amphibians back into the tropical island’s ecosystem. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 25 Feb. 2026

Beneath the hum of fluorescent lights, Juvenile pauses mid-negotiation, flips his camera, and offers a grin that feels equal parts fatherly pride and rap-legend cool. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 24 Feb. 2026

Everyone looks better inside them—white cubes and fluorescent lighting tend to make people resemble the living dead. —Jocelyn Silver, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fluorescent

• compact fluorescent bulb
• compact fluorescent lamp
• compact fluorescent light
• compact fluorescent light bulb
• fluorescent lamp

Rhymes for fluorescent

• depressant
• incessant
• putrescent
• quiescent
• senescent
• suppressant
• acquiescent
• adolescent
• arborescent
• coalescent
• convalescent
• deliquescent

Kids Definition

fluorescent

adjective

flu·​o·​res·​cent

ˌflu̇(-ə)r-ˈes-ᵊnt

1

: having or relating to fluorescence

2

: very bright in color

fluorescent markers