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.
The color is a quintessential bridal look, but the seemingly iridescent touch gives it just the right amount of modernity and whimsy. Marci Robin, Allure, 27 Sep. 2025 Through a precise electrochemical anodization process, the titanium isn’t painted—it’s transformed at a molecular level, creating vibrant, iridescent hues that are permanent and cannot chip or fade. New Atlas, 22 Sep. 2025 The Milan Snap has a fun iridescent color, and the Santa Cruz Snap With Stand has a striking, colorful bumper that's grippy, but the Camera Control button is a cutout. Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 20 Sep. 2025 The pearl bralette covered up the rapper's chest and featured row after row of iridescent beads. Starr Bowenbank, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 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 1 Oct. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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