turquoise

noun

tur·​quoise ˈtər-ˌkȯiz  -ˌkwȯiz 

variants or less commonly turquois

1

: a mineral that is a blue, bluish-green, or greenish-gray hydrous basic phosphate of copper and aluminum, takes a high polish, and is valued as a gem when sky blue

2

: a light greenish blue

Examples of turquoise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Years of posing in Vogue prepared the model to pull off her Molly Goddard pink tulle confection with turquoise accents for her summer 2019 wedding to financier Joel McAndrew in Brooklyn. —Alex Apatoff, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026

Smaller islands pepper the glittering turquoise waters around it like stars. —Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026

Entered through towering turquoise doors that are over a century old, the hotel’s farm-to-table restaurant, Tillie’s, is a culinary destination in its own right. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026

Dressed in a turquoise hoodie and slides, Amatitla said nothing as prosecutors outlined their case. —Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English turkeys, from Anglo-French turkeise, from feminine of turkeis Turkish, from Turc Turk

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing turquoise

• turquoise blue
• turquoise green

Kids Definition

turquoise

noun

tur·​quoise ˈtər-ˌk(w)ȯiz 

1

: a blue, bluish green, or greenish gray mineral that contains copper and aluminum, takes a high polish, and is used in jewelry

2

: a light greenish blue

Etymology

Middle English turkeys "turquoise," from early French turkeise (same meaning), derived from turkeis, literally "Turkish (stone)"; so called because it was first brought to Europe from a part of Turkey