Tyrian purple
noun
Tyr·i·an purple
ˈtir-ē-ən- 
: a crimson or purple dye that is related to indigo, was obtained by the ancient Greeks and Romans from gastropod mollusks, and is now made synthetically
Examples of Tyrian purple in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The common name of the dyestuff, Tyrian purple, derives from the habitat of the mollusks, which the Phoenicians purportedly began harvesting in the 16th century B.C. in the city-state of Tyre in present-day Lebanon.
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Franz Lidz, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024
Despite the equal access, to this day many countries around the world still associate the Phoenicians’ Tyrian purple with royalty, wealth, and splendor.
—Mark Woolmer, National Geographic, 24 Sep. 2020
The city of Tyre flourished for much of the first millennium B.C., thanks in part to the lucrative trade in Tyrian purple.
—Mark Woolmer, National Geographic, 24 Sep. 2020
Franz Lidz, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024
Despite the equal access, to this day many countries around the world still associate the Phoenicians’ Tyrian purple with royalty, wealth, and splendor.
—Mark Woolmer, National Geographic, 24 Sep. 2020
The city of Tyre flourished for much of the first millennium B.C., thanks in part to the lucrative trade in Tyrian purple.
—Mark Woolmer, National Geographic, 24 Sep. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Tyrian purple.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Tyrian purple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Tyrian%20purple. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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