purpler
ˈpər-p(ə-)lər 
; purplest
ˈpər-p(ə-)ləst
; purplest
ˈpər-p(ə-)ləst
1
: having a color between red and blue : of the color purple
a purple flower
purple fabric
… can only have left his antagonists purple with frustration.—
Joseph Epstein
Joseph Epstein2
a
: ornately and showily phrased or expressed
… the writing often descends into the purple prose of a besotted fan.—Stephen Holden
Stephen Holden… Rice is a first-rate writer. There are no purple patches in this narrative, and no attempts to sermonize.—Lawrence S. Cunningham
Lawrence S. Cunningham
b
: marked by profanity
His language in public is so purple they had to stop broadcasting the meetings of the city council.—Newsweek
Newsweek3
US politics
: having roughly equal levels of support for Democratic and Republican candidates or policies
… a blue candidate trying to swipe a red seat in a purple state.—Don Rollins
Don Rollins… as the race pulled tighter than Paris Hilton's jeans, Kerry volunteers flooded the purple states to energize their voters—tens of thousands of them newly registered.—Michelle Cottle
compare blue sense 9, red sense 5
Michelle Cottle1
a(1)
: cloth dyed purple
(2)
: a garment of such color
especially
: a purple robe worn as an emblem of rank or authority
b(1)
(2)
: any of various colors that fall about midway between red and blue in hue
c(1)
: a mollusk (as of the genus Purpura) yielding a purple dye and especially the Tyrian purple of ancient times
(2)
: a pigment or dye that colors purple
2
a
: imperial or regal rank or power
b
: high rank or station
Examples of purple in a Sentence
Adjective
The book contains a few purple passages.
Her writing was full of purple prose.
Recent Examples on the Web
Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Crafted in Italy, Saint Laurent’s Nico platforms are also available in Bordeaux, a rich red shade with purple and brown undertones.
—Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2025
Valentina Martinez, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
In her stunning purple ensemble, designed by Bramli Knauf, Richardson is a vision in pleats and sparkles.
—Allison McClain Merrill, Parents, 27 Oct. 2025
D. T. Max, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
The bad news for them began when Eva purpled the purple rock to go on the Journey.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for purple
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.
Adjective
My grandmother’s thin hair lay in wisps around her forehead and her eye sockets were dark purple.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Crafted in Italy, Saint Laurent’s Nico platforms are also available in Bordeaux, a rich red shade with purple and brown undertones.
—Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
The purple and gold still have a good chance to steal a game on the road as Sacramento's game plan likely centered around Doncic, so this late breaking absence could still benefit LA.
—Valentina Martinez, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
In her stunning purple ensemble, designed by Bramli Knauf, Richardson is a vision in pleats and sparkles.
—Allison McClain Merrill, Parents, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
With the sky purpling, the throng of clients (plus Cher) was sated.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
The bad news for them began when Eva purpled the purple rock to go on the Journey.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for purple
Cite this Entry
“Purple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purple. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
purple
1 of 3 adjective
pur·ple
ˈpər-pəl
purpler
-p(ə-)lər
; purplest
-p(ə-)ləst
; purplest
-p(ə-)ləst
: of the color purple
purple
2 of 3 noun
: a color midway between red and blue
Medical Definition
purple
1 of 2 adjective
pur·ple
ˈpər-pəl
purpler
-p(ə-)lər
; purplest
-p(ə-)ləst
; purplest
-p(ə-)ləst
: of the color purple
purple
2 of 2 noun1
: any of various colors that fall about midway between red and blue in hue
2
: a pigment or dye that colors purple see visual purple
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share