glossy

[glos-ee, glaw-see]

adjective

glossier, glossiest 

1. having a shiny or lustrous surface.

   Synonyms: glazed, polished, shining
   Antonyms: dull

2. having a false or deceptive appearance or air, especially of experience or sophistication; specious.

noun

plural

glossies 

1. slick.

2. a photograph printed on glossy paper.

glossy

/ ˈɡlɒsɪ /

adjective

1. smooth and shiny; lustrous

2. superficially attractive; plausible

3. (of a magazine) lavishly produced on shiny paper and usually with many colour photographs

noun

1. Also called (US): slick. an expensively produced magazine, typically a sophisticated fashion or glamour magazine, printed on shiny paper and containing high quality colour photography Compare pulp

2. a photograph printed on paper that has a smooth shiny surface

Other Word Forms

• glossily adverb
• glossiness noun
• nonglossy adjective
• unglossy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of glossy¹

First recorded in 1550–60; gloss ¹ + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Their beveled corners are polished to a high glossy sheen, which creates slender vertical stripes that contrast sharply with the charcoal shadows from which they emerge.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Some Western media compared Sirikit favourably to former US first lady Jackie Kennedy in rapturous coverage of her tenure on the front pages of their glossy magazines.

Read more on Barron's

For the filling, I like to keep things classic and a touch tangy: cream cheese whisked with sour cream until smooth and glossy, sweetened just enough with powdered sugar.

Read more on Salon

We all want hair that looks and feels healthy, whether that means glossy waves, bouncy curls or sleek and smooth strands.

Read more on BBC

As the sky-lobby filled with glossy retail and eateries, some executives worried it was beginning to look more like a mall than an office building.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bright 
• gleaming 
• glistening www.thesaurus.com
• lustrous 
• polished 
• silky 
• sleek 
• slick