metallic
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or consisting of metal.
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of the nature of or suggesting metal, as in luster, resonance, or hardness.
metallic green; a harsh metallic sound.
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Chemistry.
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(of a metal element) being in the free or uncombined state.
metallic iron.
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containing or yielding metal.
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noun
adjective
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of, concerned with, or consisting of metal or a metal
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suggestive of a metal
a metallic click
metallic lustre
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chem (of a metal element) existing in the free state rather than in combination
metallic copper
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of metallic
1560–70; < Latin metallicus < Greek metallikós of, for mines. See metal, -ic
Explanation
Metallic things are either made out of metal or look like they are. Your metallic party dress might be covered in sparkly silver sequins. Yowza! A metallic bicycle might be unpainted chrome — made of metal, in other words. Your metallic nail polish only resembles metal, glinting and shining gold. It's also possible to taste something that reminds you of metal and get a lingering metallic taste in your mouth. Metallic comes from metal, and both are rooted in the Greek metallon, "metal or ore."
Vocabulary lists containing metallic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One of the messages was in Russian and included a link to a new Telegram account named "Hitcore", the logo of which is a metallic eagle emblazoned over the Russian tricolour flag.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
Adding too much potassium salt can produce an unpleasant metallic taste, limiting how much can be used without affecting flavor.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026
Helplessness melts into righteous rage as you type some scathing retort, as loneliness gives way to the metallic taste of parasocial satisfaction as the likes and reposts flood in.
From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026
It was metallic blue for Hernandez, silver for Ysabel Jurado and ultraviolet for her own historic primary upset in June.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
I was afraid I’d never feel at home, that I’d always find myself flinching away from train whistles or the metallic uproar of streetcars.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
