radiance

American  

[ray-dee-uhns] / ˈreɪ di əns /

noun

• radiances
  plural

1. radiant brightness or light.

   the radiance of the tropical sun.

   Synonyms:

   brilliance, splendor, resplendence

2. warm, cheerful brightness.

   the radiance of her expression.

3. Rare. radiation.

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radiance British  

/ ˈreɪdɪəns /

noun

1. the quality or state of being radiant

2. Le. a measure of the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface. It is the radiant intensity in a given direction of a small element of surface area divided by the orthogonal projection of this area onto a plane at right angles to the direction

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonradiance
  noun
• subradiance
  noun
• superradiance
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• radiances
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of radiance

First recorded in 1595–1605; radi(ant) + -ance

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Compare meaning

How does radiance compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• irradiance vs. radiance

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Explanation

Radiance is a type of glowing: either from a light source like the sun or a healthy, beaming person. The sun radiates lights, and bright objects that give off light rays have a quality called radiance. The sun's radiance can be felt the strongest in the afternoon. We use lights for their radiance: they brighten rooms and streets. Also, if someone is happy and healthy, we can talk about their radiance. A sign of radiance in a person is a wide smile, and pregnant women are often said to have a glow or radiance because they’re full of life.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

radiance radiances

However violent Gandhi’s quest for non-violence becomes, the production evolves into impossible radiance, turning the opera into something resembling a Passion Play.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2026

The growing closeness between Olive, played with quiet radiance by Ms. Rogers, and William, whom Mr. McHale renders with galumphing gawkiness, forms another affecting strand of the score.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 24, 2025

More recent interpreters underline the song’s vast reach, from Harolyn Blackwell’s operatic radiance and Norah Jones’s hushed Tanglewood version to Kenny Barron’s pensive piano meditation and Willie Nelson’s weathered country croon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 5, 2025

Another critic said he had "a fluid physical grace and an inner radiance that sometimes makes it seem as if he's lit from within".

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2025

The light entering the room was preternaturally intense, carrying with it the surplus radiance of the lake and its frozen shore.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

One or two of the radiances glanced at him with inviting eyes, but no, he dared not face it.

From Mr. Prohack by Arnold Bennett

She marvelled at the power that, out of things actual and trivial, things ordinary and suburban, had made for her these radiances and immortalities.

From The Creators A Comedy by May Sinclair

Colors and radiances surrounded him and bathed him and pervaded him. 

From Martin Eden by Jack London

The cherry trees were swollen almost to blossom, and the apple trees had pale radiances in the glance of the sun.

From 'Doc.' Gordon by Frank T. (Frank Thayer) Merrill

The liquid light of the hoard flashed strange radiances on their tanned, deep-lined faces, now smeared with sweat and dust, with powder-grime and blood.

From The Flying Legion by George Allan England

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