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.
See Examples For:
Sure, you were now eating at a shopping mall and not in the booth next to Sylvester Stallone, but the experience needed to still feel glitzy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
That conception of Elvis has also faded in recent years, in no small part thanks to Baz Luhrmann’s glitzy, campy 2022 biopic.
From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026
Here’s some not-very-exciting news for you: The glitzy stocks that have carried the baton for this bull market sputtered this month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
The bot ostensibly draws on technology from Google’s Gemini chatbot and Grok, Elon Musk’s A.I. assistant, and the administration unveiled it at a glitzy rollout styled to look like a Silicon Valley product launch.
From Slate ● Sep. 29, 2026
Her new press policy meant that most reporters left her alone, but a few still concocted glitzy stories that were riddled with fake facts.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
As a result, the market could be missing Main Street lenders’ potential to keep up with their glitzier peers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
American Family Field, home of the Brewers, opened in 2001 during the peak of the last round of nationwide stadium construction, as cities replaced multipurpose facilities with glitzier sport-specific structures.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 22, 2023
Recently, a lack of new models has made it tougher for Tesla to take on rivals in China, where glitzier offerings from local players have weighed on demand.
From Reuters ● Jul. 19, 2023
Whether you bought your purse on the other, glitzier side of Canal Street or from one of the shady guys right outside, you’ve wound up here at this Starbucks because you’re human.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 15, 2023
Even as the Jazz have gone about their business of building the best record in the N.B.A. this season, they have struggled to escape the long shadows cast by glitzier rivals.
From New York Times ● Apr. 5, 2021
The rest of the basketball world has spent the entire season wondering whether this is the end of James’s eight-year partnership with the NBA’s glitziest franchise—his longest consecutive stint with a single team.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 10, 2026
The glitziest exhibits belonged to the slot-machine manufacturers.
From Slate ● Nov. 18, 2025
Towards the end of the ceremony, the star's live performance of Von Dutch and Guess saw her transform the biggest and glitziest night in music into a packed and sweaty nightclub.
From BBC ● Feb. 3, 2025
Acapulco’s glitziest hotels and condominiums are mostly windowless hulks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2023
Gia ran her fingertips over the pocket watches on the counter of Fournier's Curious Clockwork Shop in the glitziest area of Betelmore's high street.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
