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

Billowing, acrid-smelling black clouds drifted over the turquoise waters of Banderas Bay. —Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026

Far fewer visitors make it to this stunning natural attraction, known for its impenetrably turquoise water, so mesmerizing that it was once thought to be bottomless. —Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026

Its patterned black print was adorned by a chunky turquoise beaded piping. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026

Built in the 1930s, the elegant white stucco home with turquoise wood shutters looks like it was plucked from the Italian countryside. —Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 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