In this research, the structural phase composition and room temperature luminescence properties of terbium doped zirconium oxide powders obtained by solution combustion synthesis method are presented as a function of the terbium content. The doping with terbium ions was performed during the redox combustion process and after annealing at 900°C during 20 hours. With the incorporation of the terbium ions into the zirconium oxide host, the stabilization of the high temperature tetragonal crystalline phase, as determined by x-ray diffraction technique, was obtained. Under ultraviolet radiation a bright green luminescence was observed at room temperature corresponding to the (4f) electron configuration of the Tb3+ ion, namely the electronic transitions 5D4 → 7Fn with n = 3 - 6. In addition, the undoped ZrO2 material showed green photoluminescence with high intensity.