Illustration of violet
- violet 1a
violet
noun
vi·o·let
ˈvī-(ə-)lət 
1
a
: any of a genus (Viola of the family Violaceae, the violet family) of chiefly herbs with alternate stipulate leaves and showy flowers in spring and often cleistogamous flowers in summer
especially
: one with smaller usually solid-colored flowers as distinguished from the usually larger-flowered violas and pansies
b
: any of several plants of genera other than that of the violet compare dogtooth violet
2
: any of a group of colors of reddish-blue hue, low lightness, and medium saturation
Examples of violet in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Roses are red, violets are blue.
—
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
In this formula, mystery abounds — propelled by notes of crushed violet, fern, hawthorn essence, and ambrette.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
African violets can be easily propagated in both soil and water using healthy stem and leaf cuttings.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Feb. 2026
Colors with shorter wavelengths, such as blues and violets, scatter more easily than colors with longer wavelengths, which include red and orange.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violet
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Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
In this formula, mystery abounds — propelled by notes of crushed violet, fern, hawthorn essence, and ambrette.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
African violets can be easily propagated in both soil and water using healthy stem and leaf cuttings.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Feb. 2026
Colors with shorter wavelengths, such as blues and violets, scatter more easily than colors with longer wavelengths, which include red and orange.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violet
Cite this Entry
“Violet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/violet. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
violet
noun
vi·o·let
ˈvī-ə-lət
1
a
: any of a genus of mostly herbs that often produce showy fragrant flowers in the spring and small closed self-pollinated flowers without petals in the summer
b
: any of several plants of other genera compare dogtooth violet
2
: a reddish blue
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