ivory
noun
Did you know?
The History of Ivory
A hard white substance that is a variety of dentin, ivory makes up the tusks of such animals as elephants, walruses, and preserved mammoths. It is prized for its beauty, durability, and suitability for carving. In ancient times it was treasured as highly as gold and precious stones. Most ivory used commercially once came from Africa, but this trade declined in the 20th century as the populations of African elephants shrank, and increasing worldwide concern about endangered elephant populations led to bans on the export and import of ivory. The once-thriving markets of Europe have shifted to southeast Asia, where skilled artisans, often trading illegally, carve ivory into figurines and other objects.
Examples of ivory in a Sentence
Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2025
Choose from the neutral white or ivory or lean into the garden designs with chintz prints against a white or teal background.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 20 Sep. 2025
Key furniture pieces range from a precious table in Canaletto walnut and brass with curved lines; walnut bookcases conceived to showcase bags and accessories, and day-bed seats featuring an ivory bouclé fabric upholstery.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2025
Shop it in ivory, black, or a black and white striped option.
—Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ivory
Cite this Entry
“Ivory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ivory. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ivory
noun
Medical Definition
ivory
noun
Share