amethyst

noun

am·​e·​thyst ˈa-mə-thəst 

-(ˌ)thist

1

a

: a clear purple or bluish-violet variety of crystallized quartz that is often used as a jeweler's stone

b

: a deep purple variety of corundum

2

: a moderate purple

amethystine

ˌa-mə-ˈthi-stən 

adjective

Did you know?

Gems were once believed to have magical qualities. An amethyst, for example, was supposed to have the power to prevent or cure drunkenness in its wearer. For this reason the Greeks gave it the name amethystos, which comes from the prefix a-, meaning “not,” and methyein “to be drunk.”

Examples of amethyst in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lopez added even more sparkle to the look wearing Sabyasachi High Jewellery, pairing the statement necklace made with 18k gold and rubellite, amethyst and brilliant cut diamonds, with earrings and a ring in 18k gold with rubellite, old mine cut, and brilliant cut diamonds. —Meg Walters, InStyle, 11 Jan. 2026

Comprised of 27 large Australian South Sea baroque pearls, per McKinney’s official website, the necklace also featured white diamonds, brown diamonds, blue, pink and purple sapphires, pink tourmalines, amethysts and rubellites. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 7 Jan. 2026

Also included is a blinding arrangement of 27 large Australian South Sea baroque pearls, with white and brown diamonds and a mix of blue, pink and purple sapphires, along with pink tourmalines, amethysts and rubellites piling on the sparkle. —Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026

But no one would fault you for bypassing all of that and whiling away the afternoon at the spa, which has an indoor-outdoor heated hydrotherapy pool, an infrared sauna, a fitness center, an indoor pool, and a handful of thermal cabins like the Japanese salt and amethyst rooms. —Alisha Prakash, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English amatiste, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin amethystus, borrowed from Greek améthyston or améthystos "something (as a kind of herb or a purple gemstone) thought to prevent drunkenness," noun derivative of améthystos "not inebriated," from a- a- entry 2 + -methystos, verbal adjective of methýein "to be inebriated," derivative of méthy "wine" — more at mead entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

amethyst

noun

am·​e·​thyst ˈam-ə-thəst 

-(ˌ)thist

1

: a clear purple or bluish violet variety of crystallized quartz used as a gem

2

: a medium purple

Etymology

Middle English amatiste "amethyst," from early French amatiste and Latin amethystus (both with the same meaning), from Greek amethystos, literally "remedy against drunkenness," from a- "not" and methyein "to be drunk," from methy "wine"

Word Origin

Gems were once believed to have magical qualities. An amethyst, for example, was supposed to have the power to prevent or cure drunkenness in its wearer. For this reason the Greeks gave it the name amethystos, which comes from the prefix a-, meaning "not," and methyein "to be drunk."