jasper

noun

jas·​per ˈja-spər 

1

: an opaque cryptocrystalline quartz of any of several colors

especially : green chalcedony

2

: colored stoneware with raised white decoration

3

: a blackish green

jaspery

ˈja-spə-rē 

adjective

Examples of jasper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The family has since named the cat Charlie Jasper Moonstone—a nod to Charlie Chaplin, red jasper, and the harvest moon, which happened the same day, the woman wrote in the caption. —Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025

Often paired with colorful stone handles in jasper, marble, and rose quartz, her forms are equally delicate, thanks to the thinness of the metal. —Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 22 Oct. 2025

Made of bronze and semiprecious stones like jasper, agate silver and lapis lazuli, these small, sculptural pieces are meant to enhance the rituals of everyday life. —Kathy Lee, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025

There are rooms dedicated to jewelry and timepieces made with white diamonds, and others that show the era’s gradual embrace of precious and semi-precious stones increasing in size (including a statement necklace of diamonds and 165 carats of emeralds, a clip of jasper and onyx). —Daisy Shaw-Ellis, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English jaspre, from Anglo-French jaspre, jaspe, from Latin jaspis, from Greek iaspis, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew yāshĕpheh jasper

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for jasper

• caspar
• clasper
• gasper

Kids Definition

jasper

noun

jas·​per ˈjas-pər 

: an opaque mineral that occurs in several colors and is used for making ornamental objects (as vases)

especially : green chalcedony

jaspery

-pə-rē 

adjective