English Reference
adjective · noun

golden

adj. · n.
US /ˈɡoʊɫdən/ UK /ɡˈəʊldən/ gold·en

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    adj.made of the precious yellow metal called gold.

    adj.composed of or consisting of gold.

    Simple

    The king wore a heavy golden crown during the ceremony.

    In context

    The museum's collection includes several golden artifacts recovered from the ancient burial site, each showing remarkable craftsmanship.

  2. 02 A2 Elementary

    adj.having a bright, warm yellow or orange-yellow color like gold.

    adj.having the deep, lustrous yellow color characteristic of gold.

    Simple

    The fields of wheat looked golden in the late afternoon sun.

    In context

    As the sun began to set, the entire coastline was bathed in a warm golden light that photographers call the magic hour.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.a time or period that is very successful, happy, or creative.

    adj.marked by prosperity, peace, and high productivity or creativity; often used in the phrase 'golden age'.

    Simple

    Many people consider the 1950s to be the golden age of television.

    In context

    Historians often debate whether the reign of the emperor truly constituted a golden era for the common citizens or merely for the elite.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.very special or lucky, especially when talking about a chance or opportunity.

    adj.exceptionally favourable or advantageous.

    Simple

    He had a golden opportunity to score a goal but he missed.

    In context

    The startup was presented with a golden opportunity to pitch their idea to the world's leading venture capitalists.

  5. 05 B1 Intermediate

    adj.used to describe a 50th anniversary, such as a wedding.

    adj.relating to a fiftieth anniversary.

    Simple

    The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a big family party.

    In context

    The university is planning a series of lectures to commemorate its golden jubilee next year.

    fiftieth
  6. 06 C1 Advanced InformalBritish EnglishSlang

    adj.to be in a perfect situation where everything is going well or is ready.

    adj.in a state of being perfectly fine, successful, or without problems; often used predicatively.

    Simple

    If we get the tickets now, we're golden for the rest of the trip.

    In context

    Once the lead developer approved the final code merge, the team knew they were golden for the scheduled morning launch.

  7. 07 B1 Intermediate Informal

    n.a short name for a Golden Retriever, a popular type of large, friendly dog.

    n.an informal ellipsis for the Golden Retriever breed of dog.

    Simple

    We took our golden for a long walk in the park this morning.

    In context

    While goldens are known for their gentle temperament, they require significant daily exercise to remain healthy and engaged.

    golden retriever

Usage golden age · golden era · golden rule

Scotland have had their own mini golden generation, with captain Andy Robertson, John McGinn, Scott McTominay and others all continuing to play at Europe's top level.

BBC News· 16 Aug 2026

The height of the gangs’ operations began at the close of hip-hop’s traditional “Golden Age” in the mid 1990s.

Al Jazeera· 17 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated