indigo

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noun in·di·go \ˈin-di-ˌgō\

Definition of indigo

plural

indigos

indigoes

1a : a blue vat dye obtained from plants (such as indigo plants)b : the principal coloring matter C₁₆H₁₀N₂O₂ of natural indigo usually synthesized as a blue powder with a coppery luster
2 : indigo plant
3 : a deep reddish blue

See indigo defined for English-language learners

See indigo defined for kids

Recent Examples of indigo from the Web

Monochromatic styles prevail once again and are exemplary of just the right amount of indigo in a jean-on-jean ensemble.

— molly sj lowe, The Cut, "See the Best Street Style From Paris Haute Couture Week Fall 2017", 5 July 2017
The name does not allude to the muslin headdress, dyed with indigo, but rather because the dye gradually leeches out into the skin of the wearer.

— tim spector, CNN, "I spent three days as a hunter-gatherer to see if it would improve my gut health", 5 July 2017
The sky, bleached by the afternoon sun, was robin's egg blue at the horizon, darkening to indigo directly overhead.

— craig s. smith, Alaska Dispatch News, "A lost art in the Arctic: igloo making", 29 June 2017
The Tungsten is distinguished from the more plebeian Ram Limited by a segment-first suede headliner, exclusive white-and-indigo leather not unlike that in the Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit, real wood trim, and body-color exterior components.

— duncan brady, Car and Driver, "Heavier Metal: 2018 Ram Limited Tungsten Editions Add Heft to Prices", 27 June 2017
Blacks with undertones of indigo are already set to take over homes in 2018.

— caroline picard, House Beautiful, "The Popular Paint Colors in Every State Are Way Crazier Than We Expected", 21 June 2017
Within minutes, we were surrounded by pines, a vast indigo lake sprawling below us.

— christopher reynolds, chicagotribune.com, "Tracking Mark Twain by marks he left in Nevada and California", 21 June 2017
Like most river-flanking lands in lower Louisiana, this area had been cleared of vegetation starting in the 1720s for mixed-crop farms or enslaved plantations of rice, indigo and, after 1795, sugar cane.

— richard campanella, NOLA.com, "How New Orleans took the Garden District from Jefferson Parish", 12 June 2017
Reliquary This Hayes Valley spot is known for Japanese-indigo jackets, handwoven leather bags, and small-batch scents from D.S. & Durga.

— andrea whittle, CNT, "What to Do in San Francisco: The Black Book", 5 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'indigo'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of indigo

Italian dialect, from Latin indicum, from Greek indikon, from neuter of indikos Indic, from Indos India

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First Known Use: 1555

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INDIGO Defined for English Language Learners

indigo

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noun

Definition of indigo for English Language Learners

: a deep purplish-blue color

INDIGO Defined for Kids

indigo

play

noun in·di·go \ˈin-di-ˌgō\

Definition of indigo for Students

plural

indigos

indigoes

1 : a blue dye made artificially or obtained especially formerly from plants (indigo plants)
2 : a deep purplish blue

Medical Dictionary

indigo

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noun in·di·go \ˈin-di-ˌgō\

Medical Definition of indigo

plural

indigos

indigoes

1a: a blue dye obtained from indigo plants (as Indigofera tinctoria of Africa and India, I. anil of South America, and I. auriculata of Arabia and Egypt)b: the principal coloring matter C₁₆H₁₀N₂O₂ of natural indigo usually synthesized as a blue powder with a coppery luster—called also indigotin
2: indigo plant