glitzy
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of glitzy
First recorded in 1965–70; probably from Yiddish glitz “glitter,” from German glitzern “to glitter” + -y 1 ( def. )
Explanation
Something that's glitzy is very flashy and flamboyant, like the glitzy outfit you wear to the prom: a hot pink suit covered in shiny purple sequins. Glitzy is from glitz, or "glitter" in Yiddish, and the German root glitzern, "sparkle," and it's perfect for describing glittery, sparkly things. You might imagine Oscar parties as glitzy events (and show business itself as a glitzy industry). But there's also an undercurrent of gaudiness implied in the word — an inappropriate amount of glitter and shine: "Can you believe that glitzy outfit he wore to the funeral?"
Vocabulary lists containing glitzy
Elf Dog and Owl Head
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Off the Record
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Saints of the Household
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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.
Glitzy Los Angeles luncheons and star-studded parties are as much about hob-nobbing with Academy members as they are keeping films part of the larger conversation in the weeks before and during voting.
From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026
Glitzy new apartments and storefronts abound the streets.
From Slate • Feb. 14, 2023
Glitzy opportunities aside, Flower says her main passion is music education and that high-profile experiences like the Grammys and the Golden Globes result in parents telling her she inspired their children to start playing piano.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2023
Glitzy sunglasses, fashionably ripped jeans and effervescent shirts that together form a magnificent array of colours.
From BBC • Jul. 24, 2021
Glitzy galas are a regular feature of the opera calendar, but a lockdown gala – with many of the world’s best-known singers performing from their homes – is a first.
From The Guardian • Apr. 24, 2020
Definitions 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.
