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

Due to its January 20 to February 18 date range, Aquarius has associations with both garnet and amethyst. — Kelsey Stiegman, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026

Jordan's team later sent Story a special gift from the actor that included jewelry from David Yurman featuring an amethyst, Story's birthstone. — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026

In its café, romantic classical tableaux adorn the walls; the banquettes are clad in amethyst velvet; and marble tiles are arranged in geometric patterns on the floor. — Amy Bradford, Architectural Digest, 5 Aug. 2026

Brown-Taher works with a variety of colorful materials including opal, mother of pearl, jade and malachite, and mixes them with diamonds, sapphires and amethysts. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 9 July 2026

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."