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Added 9 October 2026

purple

/ˈpɜː.pl̩/ noun

In Latin: purpura, ostrum Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about purple at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A colour between red and blue; violet, though often closer to magenta.
web color:
Any non-spectral colour on the line of purples on a colour chromaticity diagram or a colour wheel between violet and red.
Cloth, or a garment, dyed a purple colour; especially, a purple robe, worn as an emblem of rank or authority; specifically, the purple robe or mantle worn by Ancient Roman emperors as the emblem of imperial dignity.
to put on the imperial purple

adjective

Of a purple hue.
Not predominantly red or blue, but having a mixture of Democrat and Republican support.
purple state
Mixed between social democrats and liberals.

verb

To turn purple in colour.
To dye purple.
To clothe in purple.

Origin

From Middle English purple, purpel, from Old English purpul (“purple”, adjective), taken from Old English purpure (“purple colour”, noun), from Latin purpura (“purple dye, shellfish”), from Ancient Greek πορφύρα (porphúra, “purple-fish”), perhaps of Semitic origin. Doublet of purpura and purpure. The sense of "imperial power" is from the wearing of the color purple by emperors and kings.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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