glamour

noun

glam·​our ˈgla-mər 

variants or less commonly glamor

1

: an exciting and often illusory and romantic attractiveness

the glamour of Hollywood

especially : alluring or fascinating attraction

—often used attributively

glamour stock

glamour girls

whooping cranes and … other glamour birds

—R. T. Peterson

2

: a magic spell

the girls appeared to be under a glamour

—Llewelyn Powys

glamour transitive verb

glamourless

ˈgla-mər-ləs 

adjective

Did you know?

In the Middle Ages the meaning of grammar was not restricted to the study of language, but included learning in general. Since almost all learning was couched in language not spoken or understood by the unschooled populace, it was commonly believed that such subjects as magic and astrology were included in this broad sense of grammar. Scholars were often viewed with awe and more than a little suspicion by ordinary people. This connection between grammar and magic was evident in a number of languages, and in Scotland by the 18th century a form of grammar, altered to glamer or glamour, meant “a magic spell or enchantment.” As glamour passed into more extended English usage, it came to mean “an elusive, mysteriously exciting attractiveness.”

Synonyms

• abracadabra
• bewitchment
• charm
• conjuration
• enchantment
• hex
• incantation
• invocation
• spell
• whammy

Examples of glamour in a Sentence

She left her hometown, attracted to the glamour of the big city.

an acting career filled with glitz and glamour

the glamour of the movie business

Recent Examples on the Web

Still, few artists have experienced the glamour of Hollywood life like Ruscha. —Michael Slenske, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024

Streisand and Michele were swathed in preternatural glamour. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024

Her stylists Wayman Deon and Micah McDonald have created looks that are filled with drama and glamour for her. —Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 2 Apr. 2024

In her opening remarks that evening last fall, Ms. Menendez exuded confidence, poise and glamour. —Tracey Tully, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024

But when Michael Douglas moves through the room, the old glamour is fleetingly restored. —Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024

Sure, there’s nothing quite like watching the Eiffel Tower twinkle at night or reveling in the glamour of summer on the Côte d’Azur, but there’s much more to France than the traditional tourist path. —Monica Mendal, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2024

Aunt Carole’s glamour, however, is utterly unforced. —Yvonne Zipp, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Mar. 2024

This effect is especially powerful at night, for example when the inner light of the 71 heading downtown from Westwood passes through Beverly Hills, accenting the ruby red glamour of the Beverly Hilton sign and spotlighting the Waldorf Astoria’s platinum one. —Mark Gozonsky, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

from Scots glamer, glamour, by dissimilation from grammar grammar in sense "learning, erudition," popularly associated with occult practices

First Known Use

1715, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing glamour

• glamour boy
• glamour girl
• glamour-puss

Kids Definition

glamour

noun

glam·​our

variants also glamor

ˈglam-ər 

: romantic, exciting, and often misleading attractiveness