aquamarine

noun

aqua·​ma·​rine ˌä-kwə-mə-ˈrēn 

ˌa-

1

: a transparent blue, blue-green, or green variety of beryl used as a gem

2

: a pale blue to light greenish blue

Did you know?

Aquamarine Has Latin Roots

Aqua marina * is Latin for "seawater", so when a lovely blue-green form of the semiprecious gem known as beryl was given an English name several centuries ago, *aquamarine seemed appropriate. Aquamarine is the ideal color that most of us carry around in our heads when we imagine the waters that lap the shores of the Greek and Caribbean islands on a sunny day. But even the Mediterranean and the Caribbean can take on lots of other colors depending on weather conditions.

Examples of aquamarine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The aquamarine is from a famed Brazilian mine and was given to her by one of her best friends, Lúcia Flecha de Lima. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 26 June 2026

Meghan also frequently wears pieces of Diana’s jewelry, from her gold Cartier bracelet to a diamond tennis bracelet, an aquamarine ring (perhaps most famously worn to her 2018 wedding reception), butterfly earrings, and a diamond cross on a gold chain. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 25 June 2026

Those who don’t shy away from more adventurous colors can indulge in vibrant options like aquamarine and amber, though purists have their pick as well with options like crystal and glossy black. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 18 June 2026

Last year, both Catherine and Charlotte opted for a coordinating mother-daughter moment in aquamarine. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 13 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin aqua marina, from Latin, sea water

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for aquamarine

• acetylene
• adamantine
• adenosine
• amphetamine
• anthropocene
• apoprotein
• arsphenamine
• azobenzene
• buprenorphine
• catecholamine
• chlorobenzene
• chlorpromazine

Kids Definition

aquamarine

noun

aqua·​ma·​rine ˌak-wə-mə-ˈrēn 

ˌäk-

1

: a transparent beryl that is blue, blue-green, or green

2

: a pale blue to light greenish blue