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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of glossy¹

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

Example Sentences

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

That provided her the first step to move back East; she found a job at the Boston Phoenix and then the Boston Globe Magazine, and started writing for the glossies.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The vessels are glazed a deep, glossy royal blue.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It makes a frosting that’s glossy, aromatic, and just sweet enough to balance the apples.

Read more on Salon

A year later, Disney+'s glossy TV adaption of Rivals brought her a new generation of fans.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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