rainbow

1 of 2

noun

rain·​bow ˈrān-ˌbō How to pronounce rainbow (audio)
1
: an arc or circle that exhibits in concentric bands the colors of the spectrum and that is formed opposite the sun by the refraction and reflection of the sun's rays in raindrops, spray, or mist
2
a
: a multicolored array
b
: a wide assortment or range
a rainbow of flavors
3
[from the impossibility of reaching the rainbow, at whose foot a pot of gold is said to be buried] : an illusory goal or hope
4
rainbowlike adjective

rainbow

2 of 2

adjective

1
: having many colors
2
: of, relating to, or being people of different races (see race entry 1 sense 1a) or cultural backgrounds
a rainbow coalition

Examples of rainbow in a Sentence

Adjective the rainbow costumes worn by mummers at Mardi Gras
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.
Noun
Daphna once went to lay May down in her crib and found, where the pillow would be, a drawing of a rainbow that Olivia had put there as a gift for her little sister. Julia Whelan Krish Seenivasan Lance Neal, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024 To top it all off, companies such as Razer find ways to squeeze RGB lights into unnecessary places so that devices spew out rainbows. Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 18 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Suspended from the fashionable wooden arch are a teething ring, crinkly rainbow, rattle, mirror, and plush moon to promote hand-eye coordination. Pamela Brill, Parents, 24 Oct. 2024 The Garvin flies both a rainbow Pride flag and a Black Lives Matter flag, prompting the occasional shouted slur. Brian Owens, Scientific American, 18 Oct. 2023 See all Example Sentences for rainbow 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rainbow was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near rainbow

Cite this Entry

“Rainbow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rainbow. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

rainbow

noun
rain·​bow
ˈrān-ˌbō
: an arc or circle of colors that appears in the sky opposite the sun and is caused by the sun shining through raindrops, spray, or mist

Medical Definition

rainbow

noun
rain·​bow ˈrān-ˌbō How to pronounce rainbow (audio)
slang
: a combination of the sodium derivatives of amobarbital and secobarbital in a blue and red capsule

More from Merriam-Webster on rainbow

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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