votive candle

noun

plural votive candles

: a short thick candle used especially as a prayer offering or for decoration

Male and female patrons crowd together at small tables where flames wobble on colored votive candles.

—Rachel Hickerson

… in some parts of the church you still bake. A lot of churches have gotten rid of votive candles because of the soot and the heat.

—Rev. John Kozar, quoted in The Pittsburgh (PA) Press

called also votive

Examples of votive candle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

All that illuminated us were dozens of votive candles at the base of her feet, most bearing Guadalupe’s resplendent image. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024

Advertisement By Monday morning, the memorial outside the unoccupied building on East Foothill Boulevard was replete with votive candles, a soccer ball and shoe, flowers and a pair of leather notebooks in which friends and family members could leave messages. —Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2024

The Tomato Ambiance Set Flamingo Estate The Tomato Ambiance Set This limited-edition set includes six votive candles in the brand’s iconic Roma Heirloom scent. —Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 14 Nov. 2024

These mercury glass trees from Better Homes & Gardens can be placed over an electric votive candle to emit a soft glow in any space. —Shea Simmons, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

votive candle

noun

1

: a candle lit in devotion or gratitude

2

: a small squat candle

called also votive