bronzed

IPA/brɒnzd/
KK[brˈɑnzd]IPA/brɑːnzd/

bronzed — adjective

  • bronzedpositive
  • bronzedercomparative
  • bronzedestsuperlative

1. used for skin that has turned a rich golden-brown after many hours in the sun

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

used for skin that has turned a rich golden-brown after many hours in the sun

Example

After two weeks in Crete, Yara came home relaxed and beautifully bronzed.

collocation: beautifully bronzed

The surfer's bronzed shoulders stood out against his white T-shirt.

attributive use: bronzed shoulders

Common collocations
  • beautifully bronzed
  • bronzed skin
  • bronzed shoulders
  • bronzed legs
  • look bronzed
Synonyms
  • tanned

    the everyday neutral word for skin darkened by the sun

  • suntanned

    more literal and slightly more formal than everyday 'tanned'

  • sun-kissed

    lighter and more poetic; suggests a gentle natural colour

Antonyms
  • pale

    lacking the darker colour that comes from sun exposure

  • fair

    naturally light in skin colour rather than richly browned

Grammar Patterns

look/be + bronzed

bronzed + body part (noun)

Usage Note

Usually sounds admiring and suggests an even, healthy-looking colour. It is more flattering than the neutral word 'tanned' and does not suggest pain or skin damage.

Common Mistakes

My arms are bronzed and painful after the hike.
My arms are sunburned and painful after the hike.
'Bronzed' suggests a healthy brown colour, not sore skin from too much sun.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Bronzed' is more admiring than 'tanned': it suggests a deeper, richer golden-brown colour that looks strong or glamorous. 'Tanned' is the neutral everyday word for skin darkened by the sun. 'Suntanned' is more literal and slightly more formal. 'Sun-kissed' is softer and often used for a light, natural colour. 'Sunburned' is different altogether because it suggests pain or skin damage rather than an attractive result.

tanned ↗suntanned ↗sun-kissed ↗sunburned ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • look bronzed
  • come home bronzed

Prepositions

Etymology

English

Formed in English from 'bronze' and the ending '-ed'. It first described things coloured like bronze and later came to describe skin whose warm brown tone resembles the metal after sun exposure.

First known use

1842

1842, in the meaning defined at sense 1