I came across a post by Jason Imms, pondering whether there's a single word or phrase to describe the effect where scenery gets more hazy and blue the further away it is 🤔

I loved the proposition and the replies on BlueSky 🦋 so I tasked myself with coming up with a few words for this blue-themed challenge 🩵💙

Is there a word for the effect where things disappearing off into the distance get more and more... hazy and pale blue? I don't know how to describe it, here's a picture.

I have to know because I fkn love it but I want one word to describe it.

[Source: Jason Imms on BlueSky]

Is there a word for the effect where things disappearing off into the distance get more and more... hazy and pale blue? I don't know how to describe it, here's a picture. I have to know because I fkn love it but I want one word to describe it.

[image or embed]
— Jason Imms (@jasonimms.bsky.social) 29 January 2025 at 17:48

Some people responded with existing phrases for scientific and artistic purposes, but Jason was looking for something with more aesthetic.

"Atmospheric haze" is the closest I've been able to find, but that's not satisfying enough do better, language.
— Jason Imms (@jasonimms.bsky.social) 29 January 2025 at 17:50

After channeling my inner poet, I came up with a shortlist of words & synonyms! ✍🏼

Cyanomyst (Cyanomystic, Cyanomystical, Cyanomystique)
Aquaethereal (Aquaether), Blue Aura, Aura Aqua, Aqua Aurealis, Azure Aura
Scenic Blueshift, Bluehaze, Navyshift, Blue-tinted, Blue Distance Effect, Bluehue
Skyfade
Bluētic Aesthetic

Cyanomyst (adjective: Cyanomystic) I absolutely love this post and the replies lol 🩵💙 I had a read-through of the the other replies and have been thinking about this for days. Will post if I come up with more words.
— Tracey Le 🔜 GDC (@traceyle.me) 5 February 2025 at 10:02

I channeled my inner poet (all those writing workshops coming in handy 🖋️) & also came up w/ other forms/synonyms: ・Cyanomyst (Cyanomystic, Cyanomystical, Cyanomystique) ・Aquaethereal (Aquaether), Blue Aura, Aura Aqua, Aqua Aurealis ・Scenic Blueshift, Bluehaze, Navyshift ・Skyfade ・Bluētic Aesthetic
— Tracey Le 🔜 GDC (@traceyle.me) 5 February 2025 at 22:48

They all have slightly different connotations & vibes, so I'm going to give examples of them in use.

The more people use a word, the more likely it is that one day it will be added to the dictionary.

So pick your favorite, use it as much as you can, spread the word about it, and hopefully someday it will end up in the dictionary! 📖

Words

Cyanomyst 🩵

Pronunciation

[sahy-yan-no-MIST]

/ ˈsaɪ onˌmɪst / International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)

Forms

Nouns: Cyanomyst, Cyanomystique

Adjectives: Cyanomystic, Cyanomystical

Definition

The mist effect where by objects appear more blue and hazy the further away they are.

Usage

This morning, the mountains were enveloped in cyanomyst.

The mountains were incredibly cyanomystical yesterday when we went hiking.

Etymology & Origins

Someone in the comments mentioned a Greek word "cyanomichli", and it became the basis for this word.

If you like petrichor, how about cyanomichli, literally blue mist in Greek? Petrichor term was invented by an Australian biochemist, so why not do the same?
— Torquil (@sireadh.bsky.social) 30 January 2025 at 08:47

The prefix "cyan-" also appears in other English words relating to blue, albeit words with some sad connotations.

cyanosis
cyanide

Fun fact: The word "cyanomyst" features all three "y" sounds in English – "cye," "yan," and "myst."

Comment down below which are your favorite words, or let me know if you come up with more of your own words.

Most importantly, use your favorite word wherever you can — in fiction, in photography, in everyday usage — and share below if you're keen to let me know!