luminiferous

adjective

lu·​mi·​nif·​er·​ous ˌlü-mə-ˈni-f(ə-)rəs How to pronounce luminiferous (audio)
: transmitting, producing, or yielding light

Examples of luminiferous in a Sentence

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.
The name comes from the luminiferous ether that was at one point thought to be the medium through which electromagnetic waves propagate, like sound waves propagate through air. Iljitsch Van Beijnum, Ars Technica, 29 June 2023 The name Ethernet was inspired by luminiferous ether. Simon Hill, WIRED, 20 Apr. 2023 The Lonely Cosmos As the luminiferous era slowly unwinds, the universe itself will change character. Popular Mechanics, 7 Mar. 2023 Plotting these luminiferous points on a map, the team was stunned to discover a collection of pulsing magmatic structures - the beating volcanic heart of southern Hawaii. Robin George Andrews, Anchorage Daily News, 23 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin lūminiferus "light-bearing," from Latin lūmin-, lūmen "light, source of light" + -i- -i- + -ferus -ferous — more at lumen

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of luminiferous was in 1801

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Luminiferous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/luminiferous. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

luminiferous

adjective
lu·​mi·​nif·​er·​ous ˌlü-mə-ˈnif-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce luminiferous (audio)
: transmitting, producing, or yielding light
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!