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 glamour Llewelyn Powys
glamour transitive verb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Madeleine, like Bond, understands that true glamour lies in understatement. EW.com, 23 Mar. 2025 The nuptials ushered in an era during which the movie-star princess, the Monte Carlo casino, and the nascent Grand Prix conspired to make Monaco a place of glamour and sometime excess. Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 21 Mar. 2025 The writing had a curious expansiveness—even short columns now read as long—and, in stories about affluent perversity and cursed dynasties, an eye for glamour with a darkened edge. Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025 For Mikey in particular, her glam was tuned to her look: a glimmer into old Hollywood glamour. Tiana Randall, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for glamour

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

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Cite this Entry

“Glamour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glamour. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

glamour

noun
glam·​our
: romantic, exciting, and often misleading attractiveness
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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