Definitions

rainbow

[reyn-boh] / ˈreɪnˌboʊ /

NOUN

color spectrum

Synonyms

STRONG

arc bow crescent curve prism variegation

WEAK

band of color

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another name for rainbow?

Literally speaking, a rainbow is an arc (bow) of colors that appears in the sky due to rays of sunshine being reflected and refracted by raindrops (or other water droplets). The word rainbow is also commonly used to refer to any artistic representations of this. Technically speaking, a rainbow can be classified as a primary rainbow or a secondary rainbow. Together, they can form a double rainbow. Triple rainbows are very rare. Rainbow is also commonly used as an adjective that means containing all or many colors of the spectrum (the main ones being red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet—aka roygbiv). Synonyms of this sense include multicolored (or multicolor), kaleidoscopic, and prismatic. Kaleidoscopic suggests something full of bright colors in a way that’s reminiscent of the images seen when looking through a kaleidoscope. Prismatic is a reference to the rainbow-colored when light shines through a prism. Extended from this is a more general sense of rainbow that’s applied to anything featuring a diverse collection of people or things, as in rainbow coalition. Rainbows and rainbow flags are popularly used as symbols of the LGBTQ+ community.

What is another way to say sunshine and rainbows?

Sunshine and rainbows is an idiom used to refer a situation that’s completely positive in all aspects. The phrase is most often used in negative constructions to imply that such situations are rare or impossible (and that it’s naive to think that they’re not), as in Marriage is not all sunshine and rainbows. Phrases used to mean the same thing often use some of the same terms in varying combinations: sunshine and lollipops, unicorns and rainbows, sunshine and puppies. The phrase peaches and cream can mean the same thing, but it’s more often used in positive constructions. The phrase sweetness and light is somewhat similar, but it’s usually applied to people, as opposed to situations. Singles words that can mean the same thing are rosy and rose-colored.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Representatives from the Seoul Southern District Prosecutor’s Office attended Samsung’s headquarters in Suwon while probing trades between 2022 and 2024 associated with its acquisition of Rainbow Robotics, according to Yonhap, the local news agency.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

On Saturday, the Rainbow Families Action group hosted a news conference outside in support of Hernandez.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026

Last year, Rainbow Tomatoes Garden, a family-owned business that claims to offer the world’s largest online selection of tinned fish, paused shipping of its salt-cured anchovy fillets.

From Salon • May 28, 2026

Along with "Rainbow Six", those two franchises have been brought together under Vantage Studios, the first of Ubisoft's creative houses to be named, which has also received investment from Chinese internet giant Tencent.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

Chiron fished a golden drachma out of his pouch, tossed it through the mist, and muttered, “O Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, show us the threat.”

From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan

Vocabulary lists containing rainbow

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rainbow

Frequently Asked Questions

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Vocabulary lists containing rainbow

National Cookie Day