iridescent

adjective

ir·​i·​des·​cent ˌir-ə-ˈde-sᵊnt How to pronounce iridescent (audio)
: 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.

Examples of iridescent in a Sentence

an iridescent soap bubble
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Her acrylic nails were also the star of the show, square-cut and painted in an ombré red and gold on one hand and an iridescent amber on the other. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 10 June 2025 Death Becomes Her star (and former third of Destiny’s Child) Michelle Williams attended the awards in a less dramatic, yet classic beauty moment: an iridescent purple manicure and smoky shadow paired with a natural silk press. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 9 June 2025 Its tail feathers are iridescent and appear to change color depending on the angle of light, a trait caused by microscopic structures rather than pigmentation. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025 Laid out in the Research Center, the frock’s silk taffeta looks almost iridescent up close. Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for iridescent

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of iridescent was in 1796

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Iridescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iridescent. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

iridescent

adjective
ir·​i·​des·​cent ˌir-ə-ˈdes-ᵊnt How to pronounce iridescent (audio)
: having or showing iridescence
iridescently adverb

Medical Definition

iridescent

adjective
ir·​i·​des·​cent ˌir-ə-ˈdes-ᵊnt How to pronounce iridescent (audio)
: having or exhibiting a display of colors producing rainbow effects
iridescence noun

More from Merriam-Webster on iridescent

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