glamour

noun

glam·​our ˈgla-mər How to pronounce glamour (audio)
variants or less commonly glamor
1
: an exciting and often illusory and romantic attractiveness
the glamour of Hollywood
especially : alluring or fascinating attraction
often used attributively
glamour stock
glamour girls
whooping cranes and … other glamour birds R. T. Peterson
2
: a magic spell
the girls appeared to be under a glamourLlewelyn Powys
glamour transitive verb
glamourless adjective

Did you know?

In the Middle Ages the meaning of grammar was not restricted to the study of language, but included learning in general. Since almost all learning was couched in language not spoken or understood by the unschooled populace, it was commonly believed that such subjects as magic and astrology were included in this broad sense of grammar. Scholars were often viewed with awe and more than a little suspicion by ordinary people. This connection between grammar and magic was evident in a number of languages, and in Scotland by the 18th century a form of grammar, altered to glamer or glamour, meant “a magic spell or enchantment.” As glamour passed into more extended English usage, it came to mean “an elusive, mysteriously exciting attractiveness.”

Examples of glamour in a Sentence

She left her hometown, attracted to the glamour of the big city. an acting career filled with glitz and glamour the glamour of the movie business
Recent Examples on the Web But the rest of her outfit was pure Old Hollywood glamour. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2024 Warhol superstar Candy Darling is synonymous with doomed glamour — a gorgeous woman playing a dying gorgeous woman. Jessica Ferri, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024 Statement light fixtures above the bed give extra glamour that can carry into the teenage years. Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2024 In the early days of the Oscars, studios manufactured that glamour, grooming and refashioning the talent, keeping their images tightly controlled. Guy Trebay, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Jimmy Choo shoes and Bulgari jewelry only added to the glamour. Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 26 Feb. 2024 Whereas the Oscars main carpet is all about glitz and glamour, the after-party is more about taking a risk and experimenting with silhouettes. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024 Being tossed out a window and covered in debris is now as much a part of its history as the glitz and glamour of long-ago gatherings. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Michelle Yeoh knows everything about glamour on the Oscars red carpet. Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'glamour.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from Scots glamer, glamour, by dissimilation from grammar grammar in sense "learning, erudition," popularly associated with occult practices

First Known Use

1715, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of glamour was in 1715

Dictionary Entries Near glamour

Cite this Entry

“Glamour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glamour. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

glamour

noun
glam·​our
variants also glamor
: romantic, exciting, and often misleading attractiveness

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