any of several tropical American leguminous trees of the genus Peltogyne
the decorative purple heartwood of any of these trees
informal a heart-shaped purple tablet consisting mainly of amphetamine
An Americanism dating back to 1930–35
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As a marine, Mueller earned a Bronze Star for valor and a Purple Heart for wounds received in combat.
From Barron's • Mar. 21, 2026
After a grenade almost killed him in Normandy, he earned a Purple Heart and then sang in the jazz clubs of Paris.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026
Army and Navy veteran awarded a Purple Heart, Stern founded Grey Bull in 2021, leading private evacuation missions in war zones from Afghanistan to Gaza.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025
Several veterans groups separately filed a brief supporting the order: The Vietnam Veterans of America California State Council and four VVA chapters, the Amvets Department of California and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2025
They were pinned with Purple Heart medals for their wounds received in action.
From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
