Metallic/məˈtælɪk/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Physical Quality Use 'metallic' to describe the sheen or shine similar to metal on surfaces. She wore a dress with a subtle metallic sheen. Pro Tip 2/3Color Nuance 'Metallic' describes colors with a shiny, reflective quality, not just any color. The artist used a metallic gold paint. Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Metal Items with a metallic appearance might not be made of actual metal. The metallic bag is actually made of plastic.