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
Pink, brown and amber melted together on top of her lids with an iridescent white on her brow bone.
—
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 June 2025
Plus, every hue features a dreamy iridescent sheen that’s sure to elevate life’s celebrations.
—Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2025
Every detail—from the calming natural tones of the cabin, echoing the country’s lush native bush and the iridescent plumage of the tui bird, to the tactile finishes—is crafted to evoke the beauty and tranquility of New Zealand.
—Amy Louise Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2025
In a remote river of northern Brazil, an iridescent creature moved through the water, or at least tried to, but something caught it and pulled it to the surface.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for iridescent
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Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 June 2025
Plus, every hue features a dreamy iridescent sheen that’s sure to elevate life’s celebrations.
—Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2025
Every detail—from the calming natural tones of the cabin, echoing the country’s lush native bush and the iridescent plumage of the tui bird, to the tactile finishes—is crafted to evoke the beauty and tranquility of New Zealand.
—Amy Louise Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2025
In a remote river of northern Brazil, an iridescent creature moved through the water, or at least tried to, but something caught it and pulled it to the surface.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 5 May 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 17 Jun. 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
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