viola

1 of 2

noun (1)

vi·​o·​la vī-ˈō-lə  vē-  ˈvī-ə- 

: violet sense 1a

especially : any of various garden hybrids with solitary white, yellow, or purple often variegated flowers resembling but smaller than typical pansies

viola

2 of 2

noun (2)

vi·​o·​la vē-ˈō-lə 

: a musical instrument of the violin family that is intermediate in size and compass between the violin and cello and is tuned a fifth below the violin

violist

vē-ˈō-list 

noun

Examples of viola in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ray Suen rounds out the sound with string arrangements performed on violin and viola. —Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026

The surface can be rendered in Calacatta viola marble, black marble, and other stunning stones. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026

Music was one of his early creative outlets - from playing violin and viola in middle school to garage bands - then photography and photojournalism. —Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 23 Mar. 2026

The second movement begins with a languid viola solo played with velvety elegance by the Philharmonic’s principal, Cynthia Phelps. —Justin Davidson, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, borrowed from Latin, "violet" — more at violet

Noun (2)

borrowed from Italian, "viola, viol," borrowed from Old Occitan viola, viula "viol" — more at viol

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1786, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing viola

• viola da gamba
• viola d'amore

Rhymes for viola

• azolla
• canola
• cupola
• ebola
• fasciola
• granola
• victrola
• ayatollah
• variola
• bola
• cola
• colla

Kids Definition

viola

1 of 2 noun

vi·​o·​la vī-ˈō-lə  vē- 

: violet sense 1a

especially : any of various garden plants that have white, yellow, purple, or variously colored flowers and that resemble but are smaller than the related pansies

viola

2 of 2 noun

vi·​o·​la vē-ˈō-lə 

: a stringed musical instrument like a violin but slightly larger and lower in pitch