any of several tropical American leguminous trees of the genus Peltogyne
the decorative purple heartwood of any of these trees
informal a heart-shaped purple tablet consisting mainly of amphetamine
An Americanism dating back to 1930–35
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Army combat veteran and a Purple Heart recipient.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026
As a marine, Mueller earned a Bronze Star for valor and a Purple Heart for wounds received in combat.
From Barron's ● Mar. 21, 2026
Army and Navy veteran awarded a Purple Heart, Stern founded Grey Bull in 2021, leading private evacuation missions in war zones from Afghanistan to Gaza.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 12, 2025
A four-star general awarded him a Purple Heart at his bedside.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2025
They were pinned with Purple Heart medals for their wounds received in action.
From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge
Carlysia remembered Ryan by posting a photo of her aunt accompanied by purple heart and dove emojis to her Instagram story.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 24, 2024
He was awarded the purple heart and is buried in the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer in Normandy.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2024
Four were red and the fifth had a small purple heart bordered by silver varnish.
From Reuters ● Feb. 22, 2023
Under the porthole, surfboard and ceiling strung with fish nets and lights, Cooke built an intricate inlay floor pattern from 17 different kinds of wood, including oak, purple heart, ebony, mahogany, acacia and Brazilian cherry.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 15, 2022
Its surface is lined with hot-pink construction paper, covered in blue and purple heart stickers.
From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day
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.
