iridescent

adjective

ir·​i·​des·​cent ˌir-ə-ˈde-sᵊnt 

: 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.

Synonyms

• nacreous
• opalescent
• pearlescent

Examples of iridescent in a Sentence

an iridescent soap bubble

Recent Examples on the Web

Two of the visible Air tubes on the heel host Lego branding, including a Minifigure head at the rear, and iridescent detailing is used for the midfoot shank and mustache. —Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 29 May 2025

This fish, with its reddish-brown head and iridescent blue patches, survives droughts by hiding in moist mud. —Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 27 May 2025

Hardwood floors offset the iridescent stained windows seen throughout the 124-year-old home. —Tj MacIas, Sacbee.com, 21 May 2025

The designer Tatiana Verstraeten models her Vienne necklace, which is made of 18-karat gold and features diamonds, moonstones and nude iridescent enamel colored to match her own skin tone. —Nazanin Lankarani, New York Times, 20 May 2025

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

Rhymes for iridescent

• acquiescent
• adolescent
• arborescent
• coalescent
• convalescent
• deliquescent
• effervescent
• evanescent
• incandescent
• luminescent
• obsolescent
• opalescent

Kids Definition

iridescent

adjective

ir·​i·​des·​cent ˌir-ə-ˈdes-ᵊnt 

: having or showing iridescence

iridescently adverb

Medical Definition

iridescent

adjective

ir·​i·​des·​cent ˌir-ə-ˈdes-ᵊnt 

: having or exhibiting a display of colors producing rainbow effects

iridescence

-ᵊn(t)s 

noun