lavender

American  

[lav-uhn-der] / ˈlæv ən dər /

noun

• lavenders
  plural

1. a pale bluish purple.

2. any Old World plant or shrub belonging to the genus Lavandula, of the mint family, especially L. angustifolia, having spikes of fragrant, pale purple flowers.

3. the dried flowers or other parts of this plant placed among linen, clothes, etc., for scent or as a preservative.

4. Also called lavender water. toilet water, aftershave, or the like, made with a solution of oil of lavender.

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adjective

1. of the color lavender.

2. Informal.

   1. of or relating to gay male sexual orientation.

   2. (of a man) gay or effeminate.

lavender British  

/ ˈlævəndə /

noun

1. any of various perennial shrubs or herbaceous plants of the genus Lavandula, esp L. vera, cultivated for its mauve or blue flowers and as the source of a fragrant oil ( oil of lavender ): family Lamiaceae (labiates) See also spike lavender Compare sea lavender

2. the dried parts of L. vera, used to perfume clothes

3. 1. a pale or light bluish-purple to a very pale violet colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      lavender socks

4. perfume scented with lavender

5. informal (modifier) of or relating to homosexuality

   lavender language

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• lavenders
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of lavender

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English lavendre, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin lavendula, variant of livendula, nasalized variant (unrecorded) of lividula “a plant livid in color”; see livid , -ule

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Explanation

You know that sweet-smelling plant with tiny purple-blue flowers your grandmother has growing in her garden? Well that’s lavender, a sweet-smelling evergreen with 93 different species. If you’re brave and look in your grandmother’s drawer you’ll probably find dried sachets of lavender flowers to keep her clothes smelling nice, as lavender is one of the most common natural scents of all, including an oil made from its essence. The plant has also given its name to the color lavender. So, a plant, a scent and a color — not bad for one little shrub!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lavender lavenders

Guests were shuttled to the Storm King Art Center, where we were greeted with Blank Street Coffee and lavender vanilla scoops from Laz’s Ice Cream.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

But thrust “Transamerica” 21 years into the future, and watch as it shakes off “outdated” and “problematic” from either side of Bree’s pristine lavender shoulder pads.

From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2026

“Tamara makes lavender syrup and keeps it on hand so there are always spritzes by the pool this time of year,” he continued.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

She also totes lavender oil, a portable fan, a rosary and sour candies in a small bag she takes everywhere.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

In her hand was a cup of lavender and sage tea.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

Speaking to reporters afterwards, she explained her purple outfit was inspired by her love of lavenders and the calmness they bring.

From BBC ● Feb. 2, 2026

She experimented with drought-tolerant trees and shrubs including lavenders and even bulbs like daffodils, but “I began to realize that so much of what I planted wasn’t doing well,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2024

Unburdened by representation, Rothko’s suspended blocks of autonomous color accentuate the strangeness of Church’s palette, especially the array of lavenders, pinks and yellows in his skies.

From New York Times ● Dec. 2, 2020

Beane — and her family — agreed, and Ferry got to work, striving to accurately reproduce the lavenders, pinks and blues, the dazzling cream lace, the shades of purple and maroon in her hats.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 27, 2019

The sky was streaked with pinks and lavenders as the sun set, but the sight didn’t cheer me.

From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence

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Related Words

• lilac
• violet

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