amethyst
Americannoun
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a purple or violet quartz, used as a gem.
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a purplish tint.
adjective
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having the color of amethyst.
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containing or set with an amethyst or amethysts.
an amethyst brooch.
noun
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a purple or violet transparent variety of quartz used as a gemstone. Formula: SiO 2
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a purple variety of sapphire; oriental amethyst
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the purple colour of amethyst
Usage
What does amethyst mean? Amethyst is a transparent purple gemstone.It is a variety of quartz whose color can range from pale lilac to a deep purple with red or blue undertones.Amethyst is considered a semiprecious gem, which is a label assigned to some gemstones that have a lesser value than those considered precious. The darkest varieties of amethyst are usually valued the highest. It is sometimes mistaken for more expensive precious stones, such as purple sapphire.Amethyst is the birthstone for the month of February. It is associated with the zodiac signs Aquarius and Pisces.The word amethyst is also sometimes used to refer to a purple color, like that of the stone.Example: The brilliant purple amethyst really made the necklace stand out.
Other Word Forms
- amethystine adjective
- amethystlike adjective
Etymology
Origin of amethyst
First recorded in 1250–1300; from Latin amethystus, from Greek améthystos “not intoxicating, not intoxicated” (so called from a belief that it prevented drunkenness), equivalent to a- a- 6 + methys- (variant stem of methýein “to intoxicate”; methylene ) + -tos, adjective suffix; replacing Middle English ametist, from Anglo-French, ametiste, from Latin
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On Monday, Giorgio Armani also presented velvets and cashmere of green, blue and amethyst shades, four months after the death of the legendary designer aged 91.
From Barron's • Jan. 19, 2026
Their wings, in shades of lavender, green and red, represented certain crystals and traits: amethyst as one of calm and purity, malachite as one of protection and rose garnet for healing and love.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2025
If the shop owner doesn’t know, or can only say that their amethyst comes from Brazil—one of the world’s top producers—that’s a red flag.
From National Geographic • Feb. 5, 2024
It was shaped like a bottle and had ribbons of color, aqua green and amethyst purple, that spiraled up its glass surface like stripes of paint.
From Washington Times • Dec. 21, 2023
Mother wants to sell the amethyst ring Father brought back from America, where he trained in the navy before I was born.
From "Inside Out and Back Again" by Thanhha Lai
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.
