violet
VEYE-uh-luht
Violet (noun) means a small plant with fragrant purple or blue flowers, or the flower itself. Example: “Wild violets grew along the edge of the woodland path.”
noun
1
A small plant with fragrant purple or blue flowers, or the flower itself.
"Wild violets grew along the edge of the woodland path."
"She pressed a violet between the pages of her old diary."
"The garden smelled sweet where violets grew under the hedge in spring."
2
A bluish-purple colour, named after the flower.
"The sky faded from orange to violet as the sun set."
"The artist mixed blue and red to make a deep violet."
"Her bedroom walls were painted a soft shade of violet."
adj
1
Of a bluish-purple colour.
"She wore a violet scarf that matched her eyes."
"The violet curtains looked lovely against the cream wallpaper."
"He picked a violet flower from the pot and handed it to her."
How to use violet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small purple flower, or the bluish-purple colour named after it.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
shades of violet
a bunch of violets
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Word forms
- Plural
- violets
- Comparative
- violeter
- Superlative
- violetest
Fill the gap
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Wild _____ grew along the edge of the woodland path.
Etymology
From Old French violette, from Latin viola, "violet (flower)."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for violet
See all rhymes for violet →Frequently asked questions
What does “violet” mean?
The word “violet” means a small plant with fragrant purple or blue flowers, or the flower itself. In plain terms, a small purple flower, or the bluish-purple colour named after it.
How do you pronounce “violet”?
“Violet” is pronounced VEYE-uh-luht (/ˈvaɪ.ə.lət/ in IPA).
How do you use “violet” in a sentence?
Here is “violet” used in a sentence: “Wild violets grew along the edge of the woodland path.”
What is another word for “violet”?
Words with a similar meaning to “violet” include fuchsia, indigo, magenta, purple, rose and thistle.
What part of speech is “violet”?
Depending on how it is used, “violet” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “violet” come from?
The word “violet” comes from Latin. From Old French violette, from Latin viola, "violet (flower).".
Is “violet” a common word?
“Violet” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “violet” have?
“Violet” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small plant with fragrant purple or blue flowers, or the flower itself.
What is the difference between 'violet' and 'purple'?
'Violet' is technically a spectral color visible in the rainbow, closer to blue, while 'purple' is a broader term for colors made by mixing red and blue that isn't found as a single wavelength of light. In everyday speech, though, many people use 'violet' and 'purple' interchangeably to describe similar bluish-purple shades.
Is 'violet' a noun or an adjective?
'Violet' can be both: as a noun it names either the small purple-flowered plant or the bluish-purple color itself, and as an adjective it describes something as being that color. For example, 'she picked a violet' uses the noun, while 'a violet dress' uses the adjective.
Why is the color 'violet' named after the flower?
The color name 'violet' comes directly from the violet flower, which has fragrant purple or blue blooms. This is a common pattern in English, where color names like 'rose' and 'lavender' are also borrowed from flowers with that characteristic hue.
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