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Incandescent first came to light in the English language toward the end of the 1700s, at a time when scientific experiments involving heat and light were being conducted on an increasingly frequent basis. An object that glowed at a high temperature (such as a piece of coal) was deemed incandescent. By the mid-1800s, the incandescent lamp—aka the lightbulb—had been invented; it contains a filament which gives off light when heated by an electric current. Figurative uses of incandescent soon followed, and today someone with a brilliant way with words may be said to have an “incandescent wit,” while someone positively beaming with joy may possess an “incandescent smile.”
Examples of incandescent in a Sentence
Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Jan. 2025
In contrast, incandescent bulbs need electricity to heat an internal metal filament inside the glass to produce light, which is released in every direction.
—Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
In Europe, stringent regulations phased out less efficient halogen and incandescent bulbs, with bans fully enforced by September 1, 2018, for halogen and earlier for incandescent bulbs on September 1, 2011.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 22 Nov. 2024
In 2025, however, North Americans eager to see the majestic fjords, awe-inspiring icebergs, and incandescent northern lights on the world’s largest and least densely populated island can take a less circuitous route.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for incandescent
Cite this Entry
“Incandescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incandescent. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
incandescent
1 of 2 adjective
incandescent
2 of 2 noun
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