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.
Examples of iridescent in a Sentence
an iridescent soap bubble
Recent Examples on the Web
TikTok has also fueled interest in colorful beetle and moth costumes, with creators showing off bold, iridescent patterns and playful, over-the-top designs.
—
Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Oct. 2025
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
The drop skeleton earrings are lightweight enough to wear all day and come in gold, silver, black, iridescent, and more.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 23 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
See All Example Sentences for iridescent
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.
Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Oct. 2025
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
The drop skeleton earrings are lightweight enough to wear all day and come in gold, silver, black, iridescent, and more.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 23 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
See All Example Sentences for iridescent
Cite this Entry
“Iridescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iridescent. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share