gilded

adjective

gild·​ed ˈgil-dəd 

1

: covered or tinged with gold or a golden color

gilded icons

The reception room, just off the entryway, features colorful wall and ceiling decorations and a gilded overmantel mirror and matching cornices.

—Stephen May

2

: having a background of wealth and luxury : prosperous, luxurious

Emily Post was raised among New York's gilded elite.

—Susan Berfield

… despite the upper-crust background and the gilded résumé, Bonham Carter is a pretty modern chick off stage.

—Elizabeth Gleick

Examples of gilded in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the decade since his descent down a gilded escalator — and emergence as the most dominant and consequential political figure of the 21st century — Trump has proven himself a peerless master of distraction and deflection. —Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025

Its shadow—cast from a gilded weather vane in the shape of archangel Gabriel 323-feet in the air—has marked the passing of days over the most famous plaza in Venice for more than a century. —Joe Sills, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025

The building dates back to 1888 and has been impeccably preserved so that its gilded glamor is just as breathtaking today. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 31 May 2025

Between landing the cover of Vogue and officially becoming a gilded beauty mogul, Hailey undoubtedly has plenty to celebrate. —Olivia Allen, Vogue, 29 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of gild entry 1

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gilded

• builded