golden

adjective

gold·​en ˈgōl-dən 

1

: consisting of, relating to, or containing gold

2

a

: being or having the color gold or the color of gold

b

: blond sense 1

3

: lustrous, shining

4

: of a high degree of excellence : superb

5

: prosperous, flourishing

golden days

6

a

: radiantly youthful and vigorous

b

: extremely talented, popular, or successful

… the original golden girl of British athletics.

—PA Newswire

He's a golden boy, the kind of guy who always seemed to get all the breaks.

—Buddy Blue

7

a

: favorable, advantageous

a golden opportunity

b

informal : in a very good or fortunate position

—not used before a noun

If the bank approves the loan, we're golden.

8

: of, relating to, or being a 50th anniversary or its celebration

9

: mellow, resonant

a smooth golden tenor

goldenly adverb

goldenness

ˈgōl-də(n)-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of golden

• bright
• promising
• optimistic
• rosy

Examples of golden in a Sentence

The memoir recounts the golden times in her life.

this may be your golden moment to impress a baseball scout, so don't blow it

Recent Examples on the Web

This was a big deal; years earlier, Zespri had specifically created the sweeter golden kiwifruit to be resistant to a disease that had ravaged kiwifruit orchards around the world. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026

Turmeric, the golden flower and root, has been used for a long time across cultures, including my own Indian culture. — Nadine El Chaer, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2026

Cook over medium heat for 10 to 12 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden and crispy. — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026

Return the baking dish to the oven and cook the chicken until the liquid is nicely reduced and the skins are crisp and golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes longer. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing golden

• golden age
• golden-ager
• golden alexanders
• golden alga
• golden-brown alga
• golden club
• golden eagle
• golden glow
• golden hamster
• golden handcuffs
• golden handshake
• golden lion tamarin
• golden mean
• golden nematode
• golden oldie
• golden opportunity
• golden parachute
• golden plover
• golden pothos
• golden rain tree
• golden raisin
• golden ratio
• golden retriever
• golden rule
• golden section
• golden shiner
• golden shower
• golden syrup
• golden ticket
• golden trout
• golden years
• kill the golden goose
• silence is golden
• the golden goose
• the goose that lays the golden egg

Rhymes for golden

• bolden
• holden
• olden
• soldan
• beholden

Kids Definition

golden

adjective

gold·​en ˈgōl-dən 

1

: consisting of, relating to, or containing gold

2

: having the color of gold

golden hair

3

: prosperous

a golden age

4

: favorable sense 2

a golden opportunity

5

: having a rich and smooth sound

a golden voice

6

: of or relating to a 50th anniversary