Purple Heart
noun
a medal awarded for wounds received in action against an enemy or as a direct result of an act of the enemy.
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Purple Heart
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purple heart
purple heartnounany of several tropical American leguminous trees of the genus Peltogyne
Purple Heart
Americannoun
U.S. Armed Forces.
purple heart
1
British
noun
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any of several tropical American leguminous trees of the genus Peltogyne
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the decorative purple heartwood of any of these trees
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informal a heart-shaped purple tablet consisting mainly of amphetamine
Purple Heart
2
British
noun
Etymology
Origin of Purple Heart
An Americanism dating back to 1930–35
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:
He joined the Marines and led a rifle platoon of the Third Marine Division in Vietnam, where he received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 21, 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
After a grenade almost killed him in Normandy, he earned a Purple Heart and then sang in the jazz clubs of Paris.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026
An Army veteran who grew up in Van Nuys and was awarded a Purple Heart self-deported to South Korea this week as he was threatened with being detained and deported by federal immigration forces.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2025
“We’ll put you in for a Purple Heart on that one, Malter.”
From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok
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
But I believe Rivera will give Heinicke — purple heart and all — just one more chance in Denver to get it right.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 25, 2021
Its surface is lined with hot-pink construction paper, covered in blue and purple heart stickers.
From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
