Illustration of lilac
- lilac 1a
1
a
: a widely cultivated European shrub (Syringa vulgaris) of the olive family that has cordate ovate leaves and large panicles of fragrant pinkish-purple or white flowers
b
: a tree or shrub congeneric with the lilac
2
: a variable color averaging a moderate purple
Examples of lilac in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For that occasion, FLOTUS donned a crepe off-the-shoulder column gown in sunflower from Carolina Herrera’s Wes Gordon, which was accented with a lilac silk belt with a covered buckle, and light lilac frosted pumps from Manolo Blahnik.
—
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025
From summer to late fall, these white to pale lilac flowers with purple spots bloom surrounded by foliage that’s arranged like a feather.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025
The shade lineup spans 10 options, ranging from pale lilac to rosy pink to plummy burgundy, all inspired by NYC sunsets.
—Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29, 16 Sep. 2025
When the pink bulbs ultimately ran out, Brooks advised customers to switch to a soft-lilac bulb made in Finland that mimics the same glow.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lilac
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025
From summer to late fall, these white to pale lilac flowers with purple spots bloom surrounded by foliage that’s arranged like a feather.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025
The shade lineup spans 10 options, ranging from pale lilac to rosy pink to plummy burgundy, all inspired by NYC sunsets.
—Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29, 16 Sep. 2025
When the pink bulbs ultimately ran out, Brooks advised customers to switch to a soft-lilac bulb made in Finland that mimics the same glow.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lilac
Cite this Entry
“Lilac.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lilac. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share