lilac
Americannoun
-
any of various shrubs belonging to the genus Syringa, of the olive family, as S. vulgaris, having large clusters of fragrant purple or white flowers: the state flower of New Hampshire.
-
pale reddish purple.
adjective
noun
-
Also called: syringa. any of various Eurasian oleaceous shrubs or small trees of the genus Syringa, esp S. vulgaris ( common lilac ) which has large sprays of purple or white fragrant flowers
-
another name for goat's-rue
-
-
a light or moderate purple colour, sometimes with a bluish or reddish tinge
-
( as adjective )
a lilac carpet
-
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of lilac
First recorded in 1615–25; from obsolete French, from Spanish, from Arabic līlak, from Persian līlak, assimilated variant of nīlak “bluish,” equivalent to nīl “blue, indigo” (from Sanskrit nīla ) + -ak a suffix indicating relationship or origin
Vocabulary lists containing lilac
Non-Color Words to Use When Describing Color
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Purple
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
See Examples For:
That’s no small attraction, though, for the multiplicity of hues—cerulean, lilac, coral, seafoam, sienna—are hypnotically rendered.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 2026
Infiniti oozed glamour in a lilac sleeveless Louis Vuitton dress with a fitted bodice and a cascade of ruffles tumbling from her hip to the floor, creating a long train.
From Barron's ● Mar. 15, 2026
Once cooled, they went into crinkly cellophane bags from Party Central, each one tied with a bit of lilac curling ribbon.
From Salon ● Apr. 3, 2025
But we find Olga, already waiting by the roadside, wrapped up in a lilac winter coat and furry hood.
From BBC ● Feb. 4, 2025
It has a big kitchen and a living room with three sofas draped in lilac floral slipcovers.
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
For floral joy throughout the year, set reminders now to take some time in the coming months to literally stop and smell the roses ... or lilacs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 2, 2025
Follow your nose through a garden, and pay attention to what memories are triggered: spring lilacs and newly turned soil, freshly cut lawn and lazy summer days perfumed with lavender, the damp decay of autumn.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 9, 2024
She described her childhood within the island's forested expanse, making dirt-pies and chasing garter snakes next to "fragrant purple lilacs, sour grapes in vines strangling the trunks of tart green apple trees".
From BBC ● Jan. 30, 2023
Almost fluorescent purple-red in color, it has aromas of berries, pomegranate and smoke embracing violets and lilacs.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 7, 2022
Tucked in a grove of old lilacs, it is surrounded by barns and outbuildings that are sagging toward the ground.
From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
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.
