azure

American  

[azh-er] / ˈæʒ ər /

adjective

1. of or having a light, purplish shade of blue, like that of a clear and unclouded sky.

2. Heraldry. of the tincture or color blue.

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noun

1. the blue of a clear or unclouded sky.

2. a light, purplish blue.

3. Heraldry. the tincture or color blue.

4. the clear, cloudless sky.

azure British  

/ ˈæʒə, ˈeɪ-, -ʒʊə /

noun

1. a deep blue, occasionally somewhat purple, similar to the colour of a clear blue sky

2. poetic a clear blue sky

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adjective

1. of the colour azure; serene

2. (usually postpositive) heraldry of the colour blue

Etymology

Origin of azure

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English asure, from Anglo-French, Old French, ultimately alteration of Arabic al-lazuwar(d) (by misdividing the initial l together with the article), from Persian lāzhuward “lapis lazuli,” perhaps from Sanskrit rājāvarta

Explanation

Looking for a fancier way to describe the deep blue sky on a crisp fall day or the jewel-toned waters of the Caribbean? Try azure. Some people might describe the color azure as sapphire in hue, but in fact there's another gem responsible for this word. At its root, azure comes to us from a French mistranslation of the Arabic word (al)-lazaward, which means “lapis lazuli” — the dazzling deep blue stone that's very common in Afghanistan. The Arabic word actually refers to an area of Turkestan where Marco Polo collected lapis lazuli for friends back home.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

azure

As I stood on a spectacular wraparound balcony on about the 20th floor, looking out on the azure waters of Biscayne Bay beneath me, I did some rough calculations.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

The azure shimmer of the blue morpho confuses predators, while monarchs’ vibrant orange-and-black wings warn birds and other predators that they are poisonous.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

Beneath azure skies and fluffy white clouds, three giggling toddlers and their mothers arrive at a candy-colored water park in the town of CoComelon.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026

Just a two-hour drive south of Sydney, Gerringong is much like many other photogenic hamlets along Australia's east coast, with multi-million-dollar properties set against stunning views of the azure blue sea.

From Barron's ● Apr. 30, 2026

The herons are herons; they don’t turn into Ardea herodias, long-legged waders, azure airborne avians, or sapphire sentinels of the skies.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker