What is the term for matter that emits visible light due to high temperature?

The term that describes matter emitting visible light due to high temperature is "incandescent." This phenomenon occurs when an object is heated to a point where it begins to glow, typically resulting in the emission of visible light. Common examples of incandescent materials are heated metals or light bulbs that use a filament; when the filament is heated, it illuminates by glowing.

In contrast, other terms do not refer specifically to heat-induced light emission. Fluorescent materials absorb light or other electromagnetic radiation and then re-emit it almost immediately; they do not need to reach a high temperature to do so. Bioluminescent organisms generate light through chemical reactions within their bodies, rather than heat. Phosphorescent materials absorb energy and release it slowly over a period of time, remaining in a glow after being charged by a light source. Each of these processes is distinct from incandescent light generation, which directly results from temperature-induced excitation of atoms.