luminous

American  

[loo-muh-nuhs] / ˈlu mə nəs /

adjective

1. radiating or reflecting light; shining; bright.

   Synonyms:

   brilliant, resplendent, radiant, lucid

   Antonyms:

   dark

2. lighted up or illuminated; well-lighted.

   the luminous ballroom.

   Antonyms:

   dark

3. brilliant intellectually; enlightened or enlightening, as a writer or a writer's works.

   a luminous concept; luminous prose.

   Synonyms:

   intelligent, bright

   Antonyms:

   stupid

4. clear; readily intelligible.

   a concise, luminous report.

   Synonyms:

   lucid, perspicuous, understandable

   Antonyms:

   obscure

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luminous British  

/ ˈluːmɪnəs /

adjective

1. radiating or reflecting light; shining; glowing

   luminous colours

2. (not in technical use) exhibiting luminescence

   luminous paint

3. full of light; well-lit

4. (of a physical quantity in photometry) evaluated according to the visual sensation produced in an observer rather than by absolute energy measurements Compare radiant

   luminous flux

   luminous intensity

5. easily understood; lucid; clear

6. enlightening or wise

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Other Word Forms

• luminously adverb
• luminousness noun
• nonluminous adjective
• nonluminously adverb
• nonluminousness noun
• self-luminous adjective
• semiluminous adjective
• semiluminously adverb
• semiluminousness noun
• unluminous adjective
• unluminously adverb
• unluminousness noun

Etymology

Origin of luminous

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Latin word lūminōsus. See lumen, -ous

Explanation

Luminous means full of or giving off light. During the winter holidays, with all their emphasis on light, you can see luminous displays of candles everywhere. This word has several figurative meanings that are related to the basic sense of something shining. For example, luminous prose is clear and easily understood. And a luminous career is bright and inspiring. The Middle English adjective is from Latin luminosus, from lumen "light."

Example Sentences

Orris shares these stories with Timble, a snow-white owl with luminous yellow eyes who visits the barn each day at dusk “in a rush of wings and night air.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

In 1890, at Gravelines, just north of Calais, he painted four spare, gloriously luminous views that capture its canal’s sweeping vistas and endless skies, and all of them are here.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

The event was exceptionally bright, and its light was further amplified by the gravity of a galaxy along the line of sight, making the distant explosion appear even more luminous.

From Science Daily • Mar. 16, 2026

Rarely used in jewelry, the dark navy of sodalite adds an unexpected layer of depth to Color Blossom’s existing luminous gemstone lineup.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

They were extraordinarily beautiful, and there was a strange brightness about them, a sort of luminous quality that made them glow and sparkle in the most wonderful way.

From "James and the Giant Peach" by Roald Dahl

Related Words

• brilliant
• incandescent
• lucid
• lustrous
• radiant
• shining
• translucent
• vivid