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.
Trump is scheduled to head back to the U.S. on Wednesday night after a glitzy dinner in Versailles, the palace for French kings outside of Paris.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2026
"It's loud, it's glitzy, it's glossy, that's what this is."
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
She also joined the ranks of a post-pandemic L.A. literati adept at glitzy launch parties and scene-y readings.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026
O'Farrell's new novel, Land, is being published off the back of her immersion into the glitzy Hollywood awards race.
From BBC • May 22, 2026
The glitzy car dipped and reached, engine purring as it climbed the ubiquitous San Francisco hills.
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
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.
