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• veronica
  veronica

  noun

  the image of the face of Christ, said in legend to have been miraculously impressed on the handkerchief or veil that St. Veronica gave to Him to wipe His face on the way to Calvary.
• Veronica
  Veronica

  noun

  a female given name.

veronica

¹ American  

[vuh-ron-i-kuh] / vəˈrɒn ɪ kə /

noun

(sometimes initial capital letter)

1. the image of the face of Christ, said in legend to have been miraculously impressed on the handkerchief or veil that St. Veronica gave to Him to wipe His face on the way to Calvary.

2. the handkerchief or veil itself.

3. Also called sudarium. any handkerchief, veil, or cloth bearing a representation of the face of Christ.

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veronica ² American  

[vuh-ron-i-kuh] / vəˈrɒn ɪ kə /

noun

1. any of numerous plants belonging to the genus Veronica, of the figwort family, having opposite leaves and clusters of small flowers, as the speedwell.

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veronica ³ American  

[vuh-ron-i-kuh] / vəˈrɒn ɪ kə /

noun

1. (in bullfighting) a pass in which the matador keeps his feet and legs absolutely still while slowly swinging the open cape away from the charging bull.

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Veronica ⁴ American  

[vuh-ron-i-kuh] / vəˈrɒn ɪ kə /

Or Veronika

noun

1. a female given name.

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veronica ¹ British  

/ vəˈrɒnɪkə /

noun

1. the representation of the face of Christ that, according to legend, was miraculously imprinted upon the headcloth that Saint Veronica offered him on his way to his crucifixion

2. the cloth itself

3. any similar representation of Christ's face

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veronica ² British  

/ vəˈrɒnɪkə /

noun

1. any scrophulariaceous plant of the genus Veronica, esp the speedwells, of temperate and cold regions, having small blue, pink, or white flowers and flattened notched fruits

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veronica ³ British  

/ vəˈrɒnɪkə /

noun

1. bullfighting a pass in which the matador slowly swings the cape away from the charging bull

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Etymology

Origin of veronica¹

First recorded in 1400–500; late Middle English; from Medieval Latin veronica, alleged to be an alteration of vēra īconica “true image,” subsequently also taken as the name of the woman who gave Christ the cloth; see very, icon

Origin of veronica²

First recorded in 1520–30; from New Latin or Medieval Latin, perhaps after veronica ¹ or St. Veronica, but ultimately from Medieval Greek bereníkion plant name, equivalent to Bereník(ē) proper name + -ion diminutive suffix; see origin at Berenice ( def. )

Origin of veronica³

First recorded in 1925–30; from Spanish verónica literally, veronica ¹ (from the resmblance of the matador holding the cape out with both hands to the woman who held the cloth out to Christ)

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

veronica Veronica

Her little feet peeped out among the grass and the blue veronica flowers.

From Bevis The Story of a Boy by Richard Jefferies

As a medicine, by reason of its astringency, it became called Polychresta herba veronica.

From Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure by William Thomas Fernie

The green of the landscape was brilliant and uniform; the turf sown with primrose, violet, anemone, veronica, and buttercups.

From Scenes in Switzerland by American Tract Society

In the wide low windows there were two banks of bright autumn flowers, pompons and dwarf roses, mignonette and veronica.

From Vixen, Volume I. by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon

In most gophers, you'll find veronica by selecting "Other gopher and information services" at the main menu and then "Searching through gopherspace using veronica."

From Big Dummy's Guide to the Internet by Electronic Frontier Foundation

"Kimi from 15 days old was in the garage and heard the sound of the engine and the smell of the exhaust," says Marco, who worked with his wife Veronica on their racing team business.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

Certified financial planner Veronica Taylor, who works for the women-centered firm Ellevest in New York, has helped many clients through this gauntlet, and is going through it herself.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

“We’ve been asking for $500 million from the state budget to create an emergency fund for our immigrant workers affected by the raids,” said Veronica Alvarado with CNIWJ.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2026

Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, pressed him to “ballpark” the number.

From Salon ● Apr. 15, 2026

Sister Veronica called it the yearly migration of the Igbo.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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