luminescent

American  

[loo-muh-nes-uhnt] / ˌlu məˈnɛs ənt /

adjective

1. emitting light that is not caused by incandescence and that occurs at a temperature below that of incandescent bodies.

   The luminescent watch hands glow 100 times brighter than those on standard watches, allowing wearers to read the time in complete darkness.

2. glowing or shining, or producing an impression of light; lustrous; radiant.

   Her gloriously luminescent voice, described by the New York Times as "hauntingly clear," evokes other-worldly sounds wafting from a mountaintop convent.

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Other Word Forms

• nonluminescent adjective
• unluminescent adjective

Etymology

Origin of luminescent

First recorded in 1855–60; from Latin lūmin-, stem of lūmen “light” + -escent ( def. )

Explanation

Luminescent things glow with light. The illuminated screens of your laptop and TV are both luminescent. Things that glow in the dark, like the reflective safety strip on your dog's leash or the numbers on your alarm clock, are luminescent. Other luminescent things include light bulbs, the stars in the night sky, glow worms, and certain glowing jellyfish and other sea creatures. When a living thing is luminescent, it's a phenomenon called bioluminescence. The Latin root of both words is lumen, meaning "light."

Example Sentences

Her work in “Marty Supreme” is simply luminescent, one of the year’s most charming and memorable supporting performances.

From Salon • Dec. 22, 2025

Her work in “Marty Supreme” is simply luminescent, one of the year’s most charming and memorable supporting performances.

From Salon • Dec. 22, 2025

The bulb suggests enlightenment, while those old clay vessels, sometimes used as grave markers or funerary offerings, lend a spiritual dimension to Eliasson’s luminescent sight.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 17, 2024

But Mugatsia and Munyiva are so luminescent, you can’t help but believe they can overcome whatever obstacles may come their way.

From New York Times • Feb. 9, 2024

It was uninhabited by humans but teeming with wildlife— iron-beaked gaganas flew overhead, glinting in the sun, and as the boat drew in, a cluster of small wildcats with luminescent fur went sprinting away.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell