Glittery describes something that sparkles with many tiny flashes of light, like a disco ball spinning in a dark room or fresh snow catching the sunlight. When something is glittery, it reflects light in quick, bright bursts from many small surfaces at once.

You've probably seen glittery decorations on birthday cards, where tiny pieces of metallic material catch the light as you move the card back and forth. Glittery nail polish, glittery costumes, and glittery wrapping paper all work the same way: they're covered with small reflective particles that create a shimmering effect.

The word can also describe something less literal. Someone might say a celebrity's life seems glittery and glamorous from the outside, meaning it appears exciting and dazzling. But just like actual glitter, which can be messy and get everywhere (anyone who's used craft glitter knows this!), things that seem glittery on the surface might be more complicated underneath. A glittery performance dazzles the audience with flash and spectacle. In nature, you might spot glittery minerals in rocks, or watch glittery fish scales shimmer underwater as the fish dart through a sunbeam.