prismatic

adjective

pris·​mat·​ic priz-ˈma-tik 

1

: relating to, resembling, or constituting a prism

2

a

: formed by a prism

b

: resembling the colors formed by refraction of light through a prism

prismatic effects

3

: highly colored : brilliant

prismatic lyrics

4

: having such symmetry that a general form with faces cutting all axes at unspecified intercepts is a prism

prismatic crystals

prismatically

priz-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• chromatic
• colored
• colorful
• kaleidoscopic
• motley
• multicolored
• multihued
• polychromatic
• polychrome
• rainbow
• varicolored
• varied
• variegated
• various

Examples of prismatic in a Sentence

with its prismatic plumage, the ruby-throated hummingbird is one of our garden's most prized visitors

Recent Examples on the Web

Stay for twilight after the official sunset time for a prismatic experience. —Carrie Dennis, Travel + Leisure, 26 May 2024

What for a lesser writer might be a gathering of research on a topic into a file from which an essay could be written becomes, in Weinberger’s collagist mode, prismatic. —Wyatt Mason, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

prismatic

adjective

pris·​mat·​ic priz-ˈmat-ik 

1

: relating to, resembling, or constituting a prism

2

: formed by a prism

3

: having such symmetry that a general form with faces cutting all axes at unspecified intercepts is a prism

prismatic crystals