indigo

American  

[in-di-goh] / ˈɪn dɪˌgoʊ /

noun

plural

indigos, indigoes

1. a blue dye obtained from various plants, especially of the genus Indigofera, or manufactured synthetically.

2. indigo blue.

3. any of numerous hairy plants belonging to the genus Indigofera, of the legume family, having pinnate leaves and clusters of usually red or purple flowers.

4. a color ranging from a deep violet blue to a dark, grayish blue.

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adjective

1. Also called indigotic.  Also called indigo-blue,.  of the color indigo.

indigo British  

/ ˈɪndɪˌɡəʊ, ˌɪndɪˈɡɒtɪk /

noun

1. Also called: indigotin.  a blue vat dye originally obtained from plants but now made synthetically

2. any of various tropical plants of the leguminous genus Indigofera, such as the anil, that yield this dye Compare wild indigo

3. 1. any of a group of colours that have the same blue-violet hue; a spectral colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      an indigo carpet

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Other Word Forms

• indigotic adjective

Etymology

Origin of indigo

1545–55; < Spanish or Portuguese, variant of índico < Latin indicum < Greek indikón, noun use of neuter of Indikós Indic

Example Sentences

Across the gold-leaf ground, horsemen of the avant-garde charge into the indigo ocean, firing arrows in pursuit of the fleeing Taira clan boats.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

As the sub dropped below 200 metres, the last traces of light disappeared, and indigo faded into total darkness.

From Barron's • Jan. 26, 2026

Through the window of an upper floor office in West Hollywood, the sky changed from cyan to navy and then indigo blue.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2024

But over the years, indigo fell out of favour because growing the crop damaged the soil excessively.

From BBC • Oct. 16, 2024

Her mother had on an aqua and indigo silk jacket, with a small sapphire pinned to the lapel.

From "Small Steps" by Louis Sachar

Related Words

• blue-green