lilac

noun

li·​lac ˈlī-ˌläk  -ˌlak 

-lək

1

a

: a widely cultivated European shrub (Syringa vulgaris) of the olive family that has cordate ovate leaves and large panicles of fragrant pinkish-purple or white flowers

b

: a tree or shrub congeneric with the lilac

2

: a variable color averaging a moderate purple

Illustration of lilac

• lilac 1a

Examples of lilac in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Perfumed aromas of lilacs and mandarins and grapefruit. —Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025

Set among bluebells, peonies, lilacs and more, the Mother’s Day Celebration at Yellow Magnolia Café will have a three-course prix fixe meal available both Saturday, May 10, and Sunday, May 11, priced at $72 per adult and $23 per child younger than 12. —Kaitlyn Rosati, New York Daily News, 7 May 2025

Spring flowering trees and shrubs such as lilacs and crabapples form their flower buds in late summer or fall before the plants go dormant for the winter. —Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025

Vladimir Kanevsky looks over his porcelain sculpture of lilacs at the Frick Collection in Manhattan. —Guy Trebay, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

obsolete French (now lilas), from Arabic līlak, from Persian nīlak bluish, from nīl blue, from Sanskrit nīla dark blue

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for lilac

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback

Kids Definition

lilac

noun

li·​lac ˈlī-lək  -ˌlak 

-ˌläk

1

: any of a genus of shrubs and trees related to the olive

especially : a European shrub widely grown for its showy clusters of fragrant pink, purple, or white flowers

2

: a medium purple