effulgence

noun

ef·​ful·​gence i-ˈfu̇l-jən(t)s 

e-,

-ˈfəl- 

: radiant splendor : brilliance

effulgent

i-ˈfu̇l-jənt 

e-

-ˈfəl-

adjective

Did you know?

Need a shiny word to bust out at your next disco party, planetarium visit, or fireworks gathering? How about effulgence? It’s not a shiny "new" word, having made its English language debut in the 17th century, but it does come from the Latin verb fulgēre, meaning "to shine." Effulgence isn’t used for bog-standard brightness, however; it’s reserved for shininess that dazzles, inspires, leaves you gobsmacked—in other words, "radiant splendor."

Synonyms

• brightness
• brilliance
• brilliancy
• candor
• dazzle
• illumination
• lambency
• lightness
• luminance
• luminosity
• luminousness
• luster
• lustre
• lustrousness
• radiance
• refulgence
• splendor

Examples of effulgence in a Sentence

the exceptional effulgence of the harvest moon is always a striking sight

Recent Examples on the Web

Maggie Rogers paired her of-the-moment shag with natural notes—bare skin, freckles, grass—as elsewhere, Elle Fanning enjoyed the lit effects of golden hour, which took her complexion and blanched blonde to new levels of effulgence. —Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 10 July 2022

Just ask Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex who took her lit-from-within skin to the next level yesterday with an ample swirl of roseate blush applied to transform her pregnancy glow into a full-on display of effulgence. —Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2018

One part shimmery smoky eye, one part unexpected pressing of pigment, Lopez's eyeshadow plotted with her luminous skin and swipe of pale pink lipgloss to exude effulgence. —Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2018

Absent from Van Noten’s three-decade career are stories of bankruptcy, strife, irresponsibility, overleverage, overexpansion, overspending or unhinged, dangerous effulgence. —Hanya Yanagihara, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2017

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin effulgentia "radiance," noun derivative of Latin effulgent-, effulgens, present participle of effulgēre "to shine or blaze forth, flash," from ef-, variant before f of ex- ex- entry 1 + fulgēre "to shine brightly, flash, lighten" — more at phlegm

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

effulgence

noun

ef·​ful·​gence i-ˈfu̇l-jən(t)s  e- 

-ˈfəl-

: shining brightness

effulgent

-jənt 

adjective