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Added 7 October 2026

iridescent

/ˌɪɹ.ɪˈdɛs.ənt/ adjective

Categories: Describing WordsRare Words

Latin root: iris Coined: 1800 Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about iridescent at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. Producing a display of lustrous, rainbow-like colors; prismatic.
    iridescent appearance
  2. Brilliant, lustrous, or colorful.
    iridescent sheen

Origin

Coined around 1800, from Latin iris, iridis (“rainbow”) + -escent.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: colorfulcolourfulbrightopalescentopalinechatoyantpearlescentnacreouschangeableshotirridescentirisating

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