votive candle

noun

plural votive candles
: a short thick candle used especially as a prayer offering or for decoration
Male and female patrons crowd together at small tables where flames wobble on colored votive candles.Rachel Hickerson
… in some parts of the church you still bake. A lot of churches have gotten rid of votive candles because of the soot and the heat.Rev. John Kozar, quoted in The Pittsburgh (PA) Press

called also votive

Examples of votive candle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Paint the lanterns black and place a votive candle inside the pumpkin. Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2025 Two flickering votive candles, and twelve white roses were placed Wednesday evening at Traditions Plaza at the University of Missouri in honor of the life of conservative activitist Charlie Kirk, 31, who only hours before was killed by an assassin’s bullet in Utah. Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025 A day after his death, dozens of votive candles were lit and left on the sidewalk outside Exotic World as the victim’s friends consoled each other and swapped stories about Herrera. Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2025 The vibe is classic supper club: jazz standards sweeping from the speakers, brimming bread baskets filling the tables, and vintage butter warmers with glowing votive candles dappling the room in soft flickers. Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for votive candle

Word History

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of votive candle was in 1608

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Cite this Entry

“Votive candle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/votive%20candle. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

votive candle

noun
1
: a candle lit in devotion or gratitude
2
: a small squat candle

called also votive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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