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
As a result of that incident, the Purple Heart recipient lost both legs below the knees. Jeff Fedotin, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Griffin’s father, Edgar G. Griffin, born in Mexico to an Irish family, was a 101st Airborne paratrooper who survived the Normandy landing on D-day and was awarded a Purple Heart. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2024 For his service and sacrifice, Hammett's family accepted the Purple Heart and Presidential Unit Citation, his obituary added. Brian Brant, Peoplemag, 16 Feb. 2024 Under enemy fire, Mr. Howard was wounded and received the Purple Heart. Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2024 Despite Roman’s initial doubts about meriting the medal, Gen. Eric Smith, commandant of the Marine Corps and Roman’s battalion commander in Ramadi, personally signed off on the Purple Heart. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2024 Serving in World War II, he was shot in the back in Japan and later received a Purple Heart. David Chiu, Peoplemag, 16 Jan. 2024 He was injured by shrapnel in one Japanese kamikaze attack and awarded a Purple Heart. U-T Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2023 He was wounded, earning a Purple Heart as well as a Silver Star for valor. Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 5 Dec. 2023

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 29 Mar. 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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