Jump To:

• veronica
  veronica

  noun

  the image of the face of Christ, said in legend to have been miraculously impressed on the handkerchief or veil that St. Veronica gave to Him to wipe His face on the way to Calvary.
• Veronica
  Veronica

  noun

  a female given name.

veronica

¹ American  

[vuh-ron-i-kuh] / vəˈrɒn ɪ kə /

noun

(sometimes initial capital letter)

1. the image of the face of Christ, said in legend to have been miraculously impressed on the handkerchief or veil that St. Veronica gave to Him to wipe His face on the way to Calvary.

2. the handkerchief or veil itself.

3. Also called sudarium. any handkerchief, veil, or cloth bearing a representation of the face of Christ.

---

veronica ² American  

[vuh-ron-i-kuh] / vəˈrɒn ɪ kə /

noun

1. any of numerous plants belonging to the genus Veronica, of the figwort family, having opposite leaves and clusters of small flowers, as the speedwell.

---

veronica ³ American  

[vuh-ron-i-kuh] / vəˈrɒn ɪ kə /

noun

1. (in bullfighting) a pass in which the matador keeps his feet and legs absolutely still while slowly swinging the open cape away from the charging bull.

---

Veronica ⁴ American  

[vuh-ron-i-kuh] / vəˈrɒn ɪ kə /

Or Veronika

noun

1. a female given name.

---

veronica ¹ British  

/ vəˈrɒnɪkə /

noun

1. the representation of the face of Christ that, according to legend, was miraculously imprinted upon the headcloth that Saint Veronica offered him on his way to his crucifixion

2. the cloth itself

3. any similar representation of Christ's face

---

veronica ² British  

/ vəˈrɒnɪkə /

noun

1. any scrophulariaceous plant of the genus Veronica, esp the speedwells, of temperate and cold regions, having small blue, pink, or white flowers and flattened notched fruits

---

veronica ³ British  

/ vəˈrɒnɪkə /

noun

1. bullfighting a pass in which the matador slowly swings the cape away from the charging bull

---

Etymology

Origin of veronica¹

First recorded in 1400–500; late Middle English; from Medieval Latin veronica, alleged to be an alteration of vēra īconica “true image,” subsequently also taken as the name of the woman who gave Christ the cloth; see very, icon

Origin of veronica²

First recorded in 1520–30; from New Latin or Medieval Latin, perhaps after veronica ¹ or St. Veronica, but ultimately from Medieval Greek bereníkion plant name, equivalent to Bereník(ē) proper name + -ion diminutive suffix; see origin at Berenice ( def. )

Origin of veronica³

First recorded in 1925–30; from Spanish verónica literally, veronica ¹ (from the resmblance of the matador holding the cape out with both hands to the woman who held the cloth out to Christ)

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

veronica Veronica

The Commandant, seated on a bench under the veronica hedge, a few yards higher up the slope, laid down his book, took off his spectacles, wiped them, and replaced them very deliberately.

From Major Vigoureux by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch

A grey veronica was trying to open flower on the 11th, and hawthorn buds were so far open that the green was visible on the 16th.

From Nature Near London by Richard Jefferies

The descent to the village was about 500 feet, Arenarium on rocks, Mimulus, Viola, Rumex, Juncus, Acorus veronica, Anagallis, Pythonium of Blake, Euphorbia, Pedicularis, Carex, Mespilus microphyllus: pine chatterers throughout, at least above 7,000 feet.

From Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries by William Griffith

The representative English veronica "Germander Speedwell"—very prettily drawn in S. 986; too tall and weed-like in D. 448.

From Proserpina, Volume 2 Studies Of Wayside Flowers by John Ruskin

The primula is thus spoken of, on account of its yellow centre, also the adonis, or “pheasant’s eye,” and the blue veronica, or germander speedwell.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Slice 7 "Bible" to "Bisectrix" by Various

Flav’s note echoes the message Valkyries stars Veronica Burton and Kiah Stokes sent after Monday’s win to encourage their fans to tune in to Game 6.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

The price of a small stuffed animal at the local grocery store where personal finance reporter Veronica Dagher shops.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026

And Veronica did an awful lot of reporting and covering of that.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

When Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ludicrously urged Americans to dress up for travel, he was referencing this imaginary age of girdles and silk-stockinged women dolled up like Veronica Lake.

From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026

“I don’t need to hear anything from you. I know everything about Veronica — ” “Veronica?”

From "Bodega Dreams" by Ernesto Quinonez

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---