stained glass

American  

noun

1. glass that has been colored, enameled, painted, or stained, especially by having pigments baked onto its surface or by having various metallic oxides fused into it, as used in church windows, decorative lampshades, etc.

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stained glass British  

noun

1. 1. glass that has been coloured in any of various ways, as by fusing with a film of metallic oxide or burning pigment into the surface, used esp for church windows

   2. ( as modifier )

      a stained-glass window

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Other Word Forms

• stained-glass
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of stained glass

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stained glass

George Mallory is remembered with a stained glass window at St Wilfred's Church in Mobberley.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

According to legend, Mallory climbed the church tower at the age of seven and there are numerous stained glass windows in memory of members of his family.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

Tuna used pieces of glass from what he estimates are about 15 different salvaged stained glass windows from decommissioned churches.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 26, 2026

A golden shaft of light may stream through the stained glass windows; seconds later, an unseen cloud passes by, casting a chill across the bricks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2025

As you climbed the stairs around and around, the outer windows would shine colored light through their stained glass.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri