ultraviolet

adjective

ul·​tra·​vi·​o·​let ˌəl-trə-ˈvī-(ə-)lət 

1

: situated beyond the visible spectrum at its violet end

—used of radiation having a wavelength shorter than wavelengths of visible light and longer than those of X-rays

2

: relating to, producing, or employing ultraviolet radiation

ultraviolet noun

Examples of ultraviolet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the stratosphere, microbes can be ravaged by ultraviolet light, fast‑moving subatomic particles blasted out from the sun and cosmic rays streaming in from other parts of the galaxy. —Carl Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Feb. 2025

Making two-nanometer semiconductors requires Zeiss lenses from Germany, extreme ultraviolet light from ASML in the Netherlands, specialty gases from Japan, materials from Applied Materials in the United States and testing equipment from KLA. —Christopher S. Tang, Baltimore Sun, 24 Feb. 2025

After all, human teeth fluoresce under ultraviolet light, but that doesn’t seem to help us in any measurable way. —Jason Bittel, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025

Another investigated how Moon dust gets electrically charged and levitated when exposed to ultraviolet light. —Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ultraviolet

• far-ultraviolet
• near-ultraviolet

Rhymes for ultraviolet

• inviolate
• violet

Kids Definition

ultraviolet

adjective

ul·​tra·​vi·​o·​let ˌəl-trə-ˈvī-ə-lət 

1

: located beyond the visible spectrum at its violet end and having a wavelength shorter than those of visible light but longer than those of X-rays

2

: relating to, producing, or using ultraviolet radiation

ultraviolet noun

Medical Definition

ultraviolet

1 of 2 adjective

ul·​tra·​vi·​o·​let ˌəl-trə-ˈvī-(ə-)lət 

1

: situated beyond the visible spectrum at its violet end

—used of radiation having a wavelength shorter than wavelengths of visible light and longer than those of X-rays

2

: relating to, producing, or employing ultraviolet radiation

ultraviolet

2 of 2 noun

: ultraviolet radiation