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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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”; see methylene) + -tos, adjective suffix; replacing Middle English ametist, from Anglo-French, ametiste, from Latin
Explanation
An amethyst is a purple stone, a type of quartz that's used to make jewelry. Polished amethysts are used for rings, pins, earrings, and necklaces. Amethysts sparkle with light — they are partly translucent and vary in color from a pale pinkish-purple to a deep violet. Amethysts were used to make ornaments and jewelry in ancient Egypt and are the birthstone for the month of February. The word amethyst comes from a Greek root, amethystos, which literally means "not intoxicating," from a-, "not," methyskein, "make drunk," based on the ancient belief that the stone could prevent drunkenness.
Vocabulary lists containing amethyst
Inside Out & Back Again
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In A Sedimental Mood: Rock and Gem Vocabulary
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Purple
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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:
Heyward co-hosted a fundraiser with his wife last week where Pratt was smudged with sage before standing in front of a giant amethyst geode to address about 125 people.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026
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
The armor had been made of silver and gold, the knights of jade and beryl and onyx and tourmaline, of amber and opal and amethyst, each as tall'as her little finger.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
The crown glitters with stones including tourmalines, white and yellow topazes, rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, peridot, zircons, spinel and aquamarines.
From Seattle Times ● May 5, 2023
Weighing five pounds, with a velvet cap and band of ermine fur, the crown includes a dazzling array of rubies, amethysts, sapphires, topazes, tourmalines and garnet.
From Salon ● May 5, 2023
The St Edward's Crown, made up of a solid gold frame set with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, topazes and tourmalines, follows its original medieval forebear in having four crosses-pattée and four fleurs-de-lis.
From Reuters ● Dec. 3, 2022
The purple “L” in the logo was fashioned from 17 amethysts, one for each of the 17 championships in franchise history.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 15, 2021
His pearls and amethysts clattered softly against the marble floor.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
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.
