noun
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charm and allure; fascination
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fascinating or voluptuous beauty, often dependent on artifice
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( as modifier )
a glamour girl
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archaic a magic spell; charm
Spelling
See -or 1.
Etymology
Origin of glamour
First recorded in 1710–20; from Scots glamar, glamer, dissimilated variant of grammar in sense “occult learning”
Explanation
Glamour is the quality of being fascinating, alluring, or charming. If you've watched Marilyn Monroe on a movie screen, then you've witnessed glamour! The word glamour originally referred to a magical or even unreal charm or beauty attached to a person or an object. Today you can still glamour, or cast a spell over, someone, but you probably won’t. More often glamour is now used to mean a certain thrilling or attractive appeal. Glamour is more than just good looks — the right clothing, jewelry, attitude, or friends can produce glamour — the mark of a star.
Vocabulary lists containing glamour
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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.
The event promises glamour -- replete with champagne-quaffing celebrities -- set against the backdrop of Rwanda's verdant hills and rich wildlife, all broadcast to a global audience.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
“This union of artistry and vision transformed the property into a singular masterpiece, embodying the glamour and creative force of Hollywood’s Golden Age,” the description added.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026
The house itself serves as a time capsule of Old Hollywood glitz and glamour, with sprawling gardens and terraced lawns perched on 8.4 acres overlooking the Bel-Air Country Club.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
With his brightly coloured outfits, Lycett will bring some glamour to the castle, if and when he's not donning the famous dark cloak.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026
To add to the glamour, the trough was completely plugged up, overflowing with soggy toilet paper and candy wrappers and other unrecognizable debris.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
