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Synonyms

gilt

1 American  
[gilt] / gɪlt /

verb

  1. a simple past tense and past participle of gild.

adjective

  1. gilded.

  2. gold in color; golden.

noun

  1. the thin layer of gold or other material applied in gilding.

  2. gilt-edged security.

gilt 2 American  
[gilt] / gɪlt /

noun

  1. a young female swine, especially one that has not produced a litter.

gilt 1 British  
/ ɡɪlt /

verb

  1. a past tense and past participle of gild 1

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. gold or a substance simulating it, applied in gilding

  2. another word for gilding gilding

  3. superficial or false appearance of excellence; glamour

  4. a gilt-edged security

  5. to destroy the part of something that gives it its appeal

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. covered with or as if with gold or gilt; gilded

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
gilt 2 British  
/ ɡɪlt /

noun

  1. a young female pig, esp one that has not had a litter

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of gilt1

First recorded in 1300–50, for the adjective

Origin of gilt2

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English gilte, Old Norse gylta

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 spread between two-year and 30-year gilt yields narrowed to 107 basis points from 150bps prior to the Middle East war.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

The spread between two-year and 30-year gilt yields narrowed to last trade at 107 basis points, from 150bps prior to the war, Tradeweb data showed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

“Spikes in gilt yields in response to political headlines show that investors are still nervous that political change could lead to looser fiscal policy and higher inflation,” said Andrew Wishart, senior U.K. economist at Berenberg.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 20, 2026

The move higher in gilt yields also came after data on Friday showed a larger-than-expected budget deficit in February of £14.3 billion.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 20, 2026

He looked at the gilt edges, and fingered the red ribbon tied at the spine.

From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt

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.