Gloria

American  

[glawr-ee-uh, glohr-] / ˈglɔr i ə, ˈgloʊr- /

noun

1. Liturgy.

   1. Gloria in Excelsis Deo.

   2. Gloria Patri.

   3. the response Gloria tibi, Domine, “Glory be to Thee, O Lord.”

2. (lowercase) a repetition of one of these.

3. (lowercase) a musical setting for one of these.

4. (lowercase) a halo, nimbus, or aureole, or an ornament in imitation of one.

5. (lowercase) a fabric of silk, cotton, nylon, or wool for umbrellas, dresses, etc., often with a filling of cotton warp and yarn of other fiber.

6. a female given name.

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Gloria ¹ British  

/ ˈɡlɔːrɪə, -ˌɑː /

noun

1. any of several doxologies beginning with the word Gloria, esp the Greater and the Lesser Doxologies

2. a musical setting of one of these

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gloria ² British  

/ ˈɡlɔːrɪə /

noun

1. a silk, wool, cotton, or nylon fabric used esp for umbrellas

2. a halo or nimbus, esp as represented in art

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Etymology

Origin of Gloria

1150–1200; Middle English < Latin; see glory

Example Sentences

The Minerva Gloria is docked at a wharf in the Mississippi Sound, not far from the US's vast oil reserves in the Gulf of Mexico.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

This is the woman who followed up “Peter Rabbit” by playing Gloria Steinem in “Mrs. America.”

From Salon • Mar. 22, 2026

The announcement would be timed to coincide with a massive rally — involving three employee unions — in Gloria Molina Grand Park, across from City Hall in downtown L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

The San Francisco strike sent an encouraging message to other educators, said Gloria Martinez, treasurer of the Los Angeles teachers union.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

When the night turns velvety dark, Alfredo says, “You must see our stars,” and he leads me and Gloria a few steps away from the trees.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar