What does sapphire mean?
A sapphire is a gemstone made from corundum, a hard mineral valued for its brilliance and durability. Although the familiar sapphire is blue, the name can also refer to corundum in pink, yellow, and other colors. Historically, blue sapphires have been associated with royalty, religion, and protection, helping make the stone one of the world’s most recognizable jewels. The word also names a deep, clear blue used in descriptions of skies, water, eyes, and other objects. In everyday language, “sapphire” therefore carries two closely related meanings: the gemstone itself and the intense blue color associated with it. The term is used in both British and American English, and the pronunciation varies somewhat by region, particularly in whether the second syllable sounds closer to “fire” or “far.”
A precious gemstone consisting of a variety of corundum, most commonly blue but also occurring in several other colors.
"Collectors paid a high price for the rare sapphire."
When the color is not specified, the unqualified word usually implies the blue variety. “Blue sapphire” is the precise commercial term.
Deep, clear blue in color, especially like the blue of a sapphire gemstone.
"The diver disappeared into the sapphire water."
This adjective is chiefly descriptive and often evokes exceptional brightness or depth of color.
The standard plural is “sapphires,” used for multiple gemstones.
"The jeweller displayed several rare sapphires under bright lights."
Sapphires are not merely blue gems: the prized blue variety is a form of the same mineral, corundum, that becomes ruby when it contains red coloration.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sapphire come from?
The English word entered Middle English through Anglo-Norman and Old French forms derived from Latin sapphirus. Latin borrowed the term from Greek sappheiros, which referred to the blue gemstone now called sapphire. The ultimate origin of the Greek term is uncertain, though it has often been linked to an Indic word for corundum.
How sapphire is actually used
As a noun, the word normally refers to the gemstone. As an adjective, it describes a characteristic deep blue color. In gemstone commerce, “blue sapphire” is the usual term when specifying the blue variety.