pearlescent
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of pearlescent
1945–50; pearl + -escent, on the model of iridescent, opalescent, etc.
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.
The restored 1972 Chevy C10 is finished in a burnt orange exterior, paired with a pearlescent white leather interior.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 23, 2026
Growing up in the suburbs of Maryland, I looked forward to summers because it was the only time my family’s refrigerator would be stocked with bowls of pearlescent lychees.
From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2025
"We've spotted one shade, in particular, taking off. Oyster grey is the fresh, breezy, pearlescent colour trend that's cropping up all over Instagram," the article says.
From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2023
He went on to experiment with pearlescent white, then mixed the two to make gray lenses.
From New York Times ● Sep. 6, 2022
This one’s painted in darkly pearlescent greens, blues, and blacks.
From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon
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.
