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

The picture, snapped by the Hubble Space Telescope, reveals Jupiter shining in ultraviolet light. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025

Though ultraviolet light from the first stars is believed to have been key to the reionization process, scientists have long suspected other sources of high-energy light must have been at work, too. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 17 Jan. 2025

Hubble warmed its backside with the sun, the pickoff mirror popped out, and WF/PC enjoyed a cleansing blast of ultraviolet light originating from 150 million kilometers away that scrubbed its detectors of QEH. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 16 Jan. 2025

There is also an ultraviolet light that can show fluorescent materials, as well as temperatures akin to retail and home lighting. —Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ultraviolet

• far-ultraviolet
• near-ultraviolet

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