verdant

adjective

ver·​dant ˈvər-dᵊnt 

1

a

: green in tint or color

b

: green with growing plants

verdant fields

2

: unripe in experience or judgment : green sense 5a

verdancy

ˈvər-dᵊn(t)-sē 

noun

verdantly

ˈvər-dᵊnt-lē 

adverb

Did you know?

English speakers have been using verdant as a ripe synonym of green since at least the 16th century, and as a descriptive term for inexperienced or naïve people since the 19th century. (By contrast, the more experienced green has colored our language since well before the 12th century, and was first applied to inexperienced people in the 16th century.) Verdant comes from the Old French word for "green," vert, which itself is from Latin virēre, meaning "to show green growth" or "to be green." Today, vert is used in English as a word for green forest vegetation and the heraldic color green. A related word is virescent, meaning "beginning to be green."

Synonyms

• green
• grown
• leafy
• lush
• luxuriant
• overgrown

Examples of verdant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This fresh, verdant mole epitomizes his embrace of traditional techniques. —Anna Luisa Rodriguez, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024

No matter how many bunches of curly kale, sturdy collard greens and steely chard arrive each week, there’s always a place on my table for their floppy, verdant magic. —Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024

Set next to verdant green hillsides, its unique character stands out before reaching the interior. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024

As for what else to look forward to, the festival grounds sprawl across the verdant expanse of New Orleans’ Fair Grounds Race Course, transformed into a bustling hub of music and culture. —Shelby Stewart, Essence, 1 Apr. 2024

Located just south of the verdant Plaza Independencia, this cozy residence offers plush rooms paired with a wealth of high-end amenities that highlight the local culture and cuisine of Mendoza Province. —Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

The property’s tranquil riverside setting is complemented by its refined yet homey interiors, sublime spa, and verdant gardens. —Siobhan Reid, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2024

And this home, featuring beautiful tiling indoor and out, door ornamentation, and verdant gardens by award-winning SMI Landscape Architects, is a fine example of Miami’s rich architectural heritage. —Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2024

But the verdant greens and sunny oranges seem mostly auspicious. —Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

contracted from Middle French verdoyant, from present participle of verdoyer "to be green, turn green," going back to Old French verdoier, from verd, vert "green" (going back to Latin viridis, from a base *wir-, whence virēre "to show green growth, be green" of uncertain origin) + -oier, factitive verb suffix, going back to Latin -idiāre, originally representing variant pronunciation (or spelling variant) of -izāre -ize

Note: Latin viridis and virēre have been linked to Lithuanian visti "to multiply, breed," veisti "to breed, rear," as well as to Old English wīse "sprout, stalk," Old High German wisa "meadow," though the semantic connections are vague enough to make this a very tenuous hypothesis.

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Kids Definition

verdant

adjective

ver·​dant ˈvərd-ᵊnt 

: green with growing plants

verdant fields

verdantly adverb