purpleheart

1 of 2

noun (1)

pur·​ple·​heart ˈpər-pəl-ˌhärt How to pronounce purpleheart (audio)
: a strong durable purplish wood that is obtained from various leguminous trees (genus Peltogyne) of Central and South America
also : a tree producing such wood

Purple Heart

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a U.S. military decoration awarded to any member of the armed forces wounded or killed in action

Examples of purpleheart in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Some of my favorite get-loud strikers include purpleheart, hickory, and birch. Jace Bauserman, Outdoor Life, 4 Mar. 2020 Neil Sperry Mixed perennials were chosen for seasons of color (purpleheart, yarrow, cannas and others). Neil Sperry, star-telegram, 1 May 2017
Noun
Kinsel received a Purple Heart in 1989 and a Congressional Silver Medal for his service as a Navajo Code Talker in 2001. Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 21 Oct. 2024 Hazy guitar lays the soundscape, as U.S. Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient Hastings takes the first verse, sung from the perspective of a soldier killed during the Civil War, before Brice picks up the second verse depicting the story of a soldier who dies during World War II. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for purpleheart 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'purpleheart.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1738, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of purpleheart was in 1738

Dictionary Entries Near purpleheart

purple haw

purpleheart

Purple Heart

Cite this Entry

“Purpleheart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purpleheart. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

Purple Heart

noun
: a U.S. military decoration awarded to any member of the armed forces wounded or killed in action
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