any chiefly low, stemless or leafy-stemmed plant of the genus Viola, having purple, blue, yellow, white, or variegated flowers.
any such plant except the pansy and the viola.
the flower of any native, wild species of violet, as distinguished from the pansy: the state flower of Illinois, New Jersey, and Rhode Island.
any of various similar plants of other genera.
reddish-blue, a color at the opposite end of the visible spectrum from red, an effect of light with a wavelength between 400 and 450 nanometers.
any of various temperate perennial herbaceous plants of the violaceous genus Viola, such as V. odorata ( sweet (or garden ) violet ), typically having mauve or bluish flowers with irregular showy petals
any other plant of the genus Viola, such as the wild pansy
any of various similar but unrelated plants, such as the African violet
any of a group of colours that vary in saturation but have the same purplish-blue hue. They lie at one end of the visible spectrum, next to blue; approximate wavelength range 445–390 nanometres
( as adjective )
a violet dress
a dye or pigment of or producing these colours
violet clothing
dressed in violet
informal a shy person
violet flower A violet is a flower known for its vibrant bluish-purple color (the basis of the name of the color violet). The name violet can refer to any flower in the genus Viola, some of which are other colors (including blue, yellow, and white) or are variegated. The most well-known variety is called the common blue violet. The violet family contains many different species of plants, including trees and shrubs. The violet is the state flower of Illinois, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Rhode Island. It’s also one of the February birth flowers (a flower that’s associated with a particular month in the same way as a birthstone). Violets are often said to represent modesty. The idiom shrinking violet refers to someone who is shy or (overly) modest. Example: For my birthday, my wife always gives me a bouquet of beautiful violets.
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old French violete, equivalent to viole (from Latin viola violet) + -ete diminutive suffix; see -et
Roses are red, violets are blue...actually, violets are closer to purple — but purple doesn't rhyme with anything. The word violet can refer either to a purplish-blue color or to the tiny flower of that color. On the color spectrum, violet is a variation on purple that sits a bit closer to blue than red. The color violet comes from the flower name, which is rooted in the Latin viola. The violet is a plant with small flowers that vary in color from pale violet to dark blue, as well as white. If you're coloring violets in a coloring book, you can choose the violet crayon!
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
High Browns need a delicate combination of bracken and common dog violet.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
Claire’s, the accessories store and mall staple that has pierced the ears of more than 131 million customers over the decades, had long built its brand with a distinctive shade of bright violet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026
This is because the sunlight it reflects reaches us through a more dense part of the Earth's atmosphere which scatters blue and violet light, and means only the redder hues reach us.
From BBC ● Mar. 29, 2026
Wildflower Hill at the Theodore Payne Foundation Nursery is thriving with a few species of phacelia, including lavender-blue lacy phacelia and violet Canterbury bells.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2026
“Well, I’ve had Quidditch practice, Professor,” said Harry, who had indeed been scheduling practices every time Slughorn had sent him a little, violet ribbon-adorned invitation.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
If that sounds worrisome, the hapless bachelors of Violet Du Feng’s documentary may put one’s mind at rest about angry, frustrated men.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
At the time of the arrest, a small crowd of Pokémon fans was camped outside of the Best Buy waiting to purchase the latest set of trading cards, the Scarlet & Violet 151 expansion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026
Violet had a "typical upbringing for someone of that age and status" but rebelled against her family, converting to Catholicism and becoming a socialist, said Philippa.
From BBC ● Apr. 7, 2026
He shared a blog post written by Violet, who makes many helpful points, on his Substack.
From Salon ● Apr. 2, 2026
“I hate it too,” Violet said, and Klaus looked at his older sister with relief.
From "The Bad Beginning" by Lemony Snicket
The pearl-bordered fritillary, a striking orange-and-black butterfly whose caterpillars feed only on violets, has declined by 70%.
From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2026
Use a cosmetic brush to clean the fuzzy leaves of plants like African violets.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 17, 2024
Her poems are powerful and dangerous, like violets pushing through concrete to kiss the sun.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2023
Stacks of tires block the windows, red and blue lights blend with the gallery’s green exit signs to bathe the space in violets and browns.
From New York Times ● Feb. 23, 2023
I look down and see the wild pansies, small purple and white violets, growing at my feet.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
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.
