luminescent
Americanadjective
-
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.
-
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.
Other Word Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing luminescent
Fahrenheit 451
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Let There Be Light: Lum and Luc
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All Aglow: Light Lingo
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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.
Launched in the clubbing capital of Ibiza, it's targeted toward clubbers and festival-goers, and one of its ingredients, vitamin B2, is naturally luminescent and glows under UV club lights.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Steven C. Kemp’s sets contrasted the forbiddingly gray and angular environment of Atlas with the riotously colored, luminescent trees and rocks of the world outside.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Her work in “Marty Supreme” is simply luminescent, one of the year’s most charming and memorable supporting performances.
From Salon ● Dec. 22, 2025
L’Belle-Tividad is pale, almost luminescent, an effect enhanced by her bright blond hair and her wardrobe of flowing, white and pale pink garments.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2025
The walls glowed with luminescent mosses—green, red, and purple.
From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan
Definitions 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.
