What does lavender mean?
Lavender is an aromatic herbaceous plant with narrow gray-green leaves and spikes of fragrant purple or blue flowers. It is cultivated both as an ornamental garden plant and as a source of essential oil, cosmetics, sachets, medicines, and perfumes. The word also refers to a soft pale-purple color, making it common in descriptions of clothing, furnishings, and hair. Lavender carries associations with calm, freshness, cleanliness, elegance, and the scent of flowers, but these associations can make it sound poetic or decorative in contexts where a more neutral term is needed. Botanically, it belongs to the mint family and is closely related to other aromatic herbs. Its English name comes through French from a Latin botanical term for the plant, whose connection with washing and bathing explains its longstanding use in scented washing preparations.
An aromatic perennial herb with narrow leaves and fragrant flowers, commonly purple or blue, used in gardens, perfumery, cosmetics, and medicines.
"Fresh lavender filled the air around the old stone house."
Often used as an uncountable name for the plant, fragrance, or essence; the plural refers to individual plants or varieties.
Pale purple or light violet in color, especially in descriptions of flowers, fabrics, hair, or painted surfaces.
"The dress had a delicate lavender bodice."
The color sense is especially common in fashion, cosmetics, and interior decoration.
To perfume with lavender or to tint hair or another material lavender.
"The salon lavendered her hair before the ceremony."
The verb is less common than the noun and adjective senses.
Usually used for individual plants or distinct varieties; the plant's fragrance and the color are often treated as uncountable.
"Several lavenders grew along the edge of the terrace."
Lavender has been valued for its scent since antiquity: its name is connected with the Latin language of washing, because the plant was traditionally used in baths and laundry.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lavender come from?
The word entered Middle English from Old French lavandre, reflecting Medieval Latin lavandula, the name of the plant. The Latin name is generally connected with lavandus and lavare, relating to washing, reflecting the plant's historical use in washing and bathing. English laundry comes through Medieval Latin lavandaria from the same root, while lavandula remains the botanical genus name and lavandin refers to a cultivated hybrid of true lavender.
How lavender is actually used
The word is generally neutral and familiar. It is commonly used in gardening, beauty, fashion, home décor, and descriptions of color; in the verb sense, it is especially associated with tinting hair.