sapphire

American  

[saf-ahy^uhr] / ˈsæf aɪər /

noun

sapphires plural

1. any gem variety of corundum other than the ruby, especially one of the blue varieties.

2. a gem of this kind.

3. the color of this gem, a deep blue.

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adjective

1. resembling sapphire; deep blue.

   a sapphire sky.

sapphire British  

/ ˈsæfaɪə /

noun

1. 1. any precious corundum gemstone that is not red, esp the highly valued transparent blue variety. A synthetic form is used in electronics and precision apparatus. Formula: Al 2 O 3

   2. ( as modifier )

      a sapphire ring

2. 1. the blue colour of sapphire

   2. ( as adjective )

      sapphire eyes

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sapphire Scientific  

/ săf′īr′ /

1. A clear, fairly pure form of the mineral corundum that is usually blue but may be any color except red. It often contains small amounts of oxides of cobalt, chromium, and titanium and is valued as a gem.

2. Compare ruby

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Usage

What does sapphire mean? Sapphire is a transparent gemstone known for its deep-blue variety. Sapphire belongs to the corundum family of minerals. Sapphires come in a variety of colors (including completely clear), but if a color is not specified, the word sapphire usually refers to the blue kind. This is the most well-known and is classified as a precious gem, meaning that it has a high commercial value. Some varieties of sapphire, like the one known as star sapphire, are considered even more valuable. Sapphire is popular in jewelry. It is one of the birthstones for the month of September. It is associated with the zodiac sign of Taurus. Some sapphires are synthetic, meaning they are manufactured, as opposed to being formed naturally. Due to its hardness, synthetic sapphire is used in a variety of practical applications, including as a material to make windows, lasers, and circuits. It is sometimes used as an abrasive, which is a material used for grinding and polishing. The word sapphire is also sometimes used to refer to a deep-blue color. Example: If I had the money, I’d buy that deep-blue sapphire ring.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sapphires
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sapphire

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English saphir(e), saph(i)er, from Old French safir(e), saffir, saffer, from Latin sapphīrus, sappīrus, from Greek sáppheiros, perhaps “lapis lazuli, lazurite, sapphire,” probably from Semitic (compare Hebrew sappīr, and probably a loanword in Semitic); sappīr and related Semitic forms perhaps come from Sanskrit śanipuriya “dear to (the planet) Saturn,” equivalent to Śani “(the planet) Saturn” + priyá- “dear”; further origin uncertain

Explanation

If your grandmother gives you her sapphire ring, it will probably have a translucent blue stone on it, though you may end up with a rare yellow sapphire. This blue gemstone is commonly known as the birthstone for those born in September. The word sapphire has been kicking around English for more than 700 years and enjoyed at least two dozen spellings before settling on the current, counterintuitive one. The Greek origin, sappheiros, means "blue stone," although it probably refers not to the sapphire but to another blue stone, the lapis lazuli.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sapphire sapphires

The color palette consists of hues commonly found in Art Deco architecture, including muted green, sapphire and ruby.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026

Tour the Smithsonian Gem Collection whenever you want with this book on the histories of the Star of Asia sapphire, the Dom Pedro Aquamarine obelisk and the Hope Diamond.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 28, 2025

They found that the sapphire substrate was responsible for most of the remaining problems.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 17, 2025

The stolen items included sapphire and emerald sets once worn by Napoleon’s wives and Empress Eugénie’s diamond corsage brooch.

From Salon ● Oct. 19, 2025

She remembered the sapphire brooch the Queen had pinned on to her chest.

From "The BFG" by Roald Dahl

The jewellery was made with gold, sapphires and emeralds originating from Zambia or Thailand, according to Spanish media.

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

The Seahawks ring, large as a child’s fist, is encrusted with 20 carats of white diamonds and blue sapphires.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026

The ingested loot is set with 60 white diamonds and 15 blue sapphires, according to the jeweller's website, and opens to reveal an 18-carat gold miniature octopus.

From BBC ● Dec. 4, 2025

They also grabbed the diamond-studded crown of Empress Eugenie, a tiara punctuated with sapphires and several other pieces.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2025

Behind this group eight sturdy fellows bear the royal litter, rough with yellow sapphires, in which no king has ridden for centuries, a ceremonial relic of the very-long-ago.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Related Words

• blue-green