luminescence

American  

[loo-muh-nes-uhns] / ˌlu məˈnɛs əns /

noun

1. the emission of light not caused by incandescence and occurring at a temperature below that of incandescent bodies.

2. the light produced by such an emission.

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luminescence British  

/ ˌluːmɪˈnɛsəns /

noun

1. physics

   1. the emission of light at low temperatures by any process other than incandescence, such as phosphorescence or chemiluminescence

   2. the light emitted by such a process

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luminescence Scientific  

/ lo̅o̅′mə-nĕs′əns /

1. The emission of light as a result of the excitation of atoms by energy other than heat. Bioluminescence, fluorescence, and phosphorescence are examples of luminescence that can be produced by biological or chemical processes.

2. The light produced in this way.

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Other Word Forms

• nonluminescence
  noun
• luminescent
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of luminescence

First recorded in 1885–90; from Latin lūmin- ( see lumen) + -escence

Explanation

When some object gives off light, that light is called luminescence. The luminescence of a lighthouse helps keep boats safe on foggy nights. Glow-in-the-dark stars stuck to your bedroom ceiling have a luminescence you can see when you turn out the light at night, and lightning bugs blink on and off with luminescence in the summertime. Luminescence, scientifically speaking, describes a glow or light that's emitted at a cool temperature, rather than one caused by a fire, for example. The Latin root is lumen, or "light."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

luminescence

Fabrics with sheen or brocade thread add luminescence in the darkened church setting, says Walicka Maimone: “Only so much lighting can come from the windows. We need to lift the palette and create the sparkle.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

Researchers combined this non-destructive luminescence method with established chemical analyses, allowing them to identify burned animal bones with a high level of confidence.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 24, 2026

This action inspires lovely, shimmering visuals of delicate luminescence, but Mr. Cameron’s references to becoming one with the environment would make the most earnest hippie folk singer blush.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 17, 2025

The scientists used a technique called luminescence dating to work out the age of the star dune.

From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2024

He prowled about by Mrs. Coulter’s sleeping bag, scratching with a little horny finger at the occasional glowflies that settled in the cave and smearing their luminescence over the rock.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman