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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)

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

veronica Veronica

She waited, however, at the bottom of the garden for Zachary's return, strewing the ground by her feet with spikes of veronica blooms.

From Carnival by Compton MacKenzie

The loveliest veronica; ah, the head fell; but there is another, that will keep.

From In God's Way A Novel by Bj?rnstjerne Bj?rnson

A grey veronica was trying to open flower on the 11th, and hawthorn buds were so far open that the green was visible on the 16th.

From Nature Near London by Richard Jefferies

The fuchsia also grows to a large size; but it is a more delicate plant than the veronica, and thrives only in sheltered places.

From Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle, between the years 1826 and 1836 Volume I. - Proceedings of the First Expedition, 1826-1830 by Robert Fitzroy

The primula is thus spoken of, on account of its yellow centre, also the adonis, or “pheasant’s eye,” and the blue veronica, or germander speedwell.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Slice 7 "Bible" to "Bisectrix" by Various

When Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ludicrously urged Americans to dress up for travel, he was referencing this imaginary age of girdles and silk-stockinged women dolled up like Veronica Lake.

From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026

"Initially, paramedics thought Veronica Irwin had already died," prosecutor Phil Barnes KC told Carlisle Crown Court.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 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

Born Nedra Talley on Jan. 27, 1946, in New York City, Ross started singing as a child and joined cousins Veronica and Estelle Bennett to form the family act the Darling Sisters.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 27, 2026

Veronica owns a bona fide pebble from Grace/and. cachet.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner