viola

1 of 2

noun (1)

vi·​o·​la vī-ˈō-lə  vē-  ˈvī-ə- 

: violet sense 1a

especially : any of various garden hybrids with solitary white, yellow, or purple often variegated flowers resembling but smaller than typical pansies

viola

2 of 2

noun (2)

vi·​o·​la vē-ˈō-lə 

: a musical instrument of the violin family that is intermediate in size and compass between the violin and cello and is tuned a fifth below the violin

violist

vē-ˈō-list 

noun

Examples of viola in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Insert two goalies who have played very well and viola, the wins have followed. —Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2025

Syrah, on the other hand, is more similar to the viola, offering complexity and depth. —Rachel King, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025

To clear things up: All pansies are violas, but not all violas are pansies. —Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 2025

Ornamental cabbage and kale plants combine beautifully with pansies and violas in winter containers. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, borrowed from Latin, "violet" — more at violet

Noun (2)

borrowed from Italian, "viola, viol," borrowed from Old Occitan viola, viula "viol" — more at viol

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1786, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing viola

• viola da gamba
• viola d'amore

Rhymes for viola

• azolla
• canola
• cupola
• ebola
• fasciola
• granola
• victrola
• ayatollah
• variola
• bola
• cola
• colla

Kids Definition

viola

1 of 2 noun

vi·​o·​la vī-ˈō-lə  vē- 

: violet sense 1a

especially : any of various garden plants that have white, yellow, purple, or variously colored flowers and that resemble but are smaller than the related pansies

viola

2 of 2 noun

vi·​o·​la vē-ˈō-lə 

: a stringed musical instrument like a violin but slightly larger and lower in pitch