# indigo

/ˈɪndəˌɡoʊ/ (US) · /ˈɪndɪɡˌəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/indigo
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. color

adjective · CEFR B2

having a dark, purplish-blue color.

For teachers: possessing a deep, dark blue or violet-blue hue, typically associated with the spectrum between blue and violet.

- The sky turned a deep indigo just before the stars appeared.
- The artist used indigo pigments to capture the moody, atmospheric quality of the ocean at twilight.

### 2. the color or dye

noun · CEFR B2

a dark blue color or the substance used to dye clothes this color.

For teachers: a deep blue dye traditionally extracted from plants of the genus Indigofera, or the specific color produced by such a dye.

- Indigo was once a very expensive dye used for royal clothing.
- Synthetic indigo revolutionized the textile industry, making the deep blue color of denim jeans affordable for mass production.

### 3. the plant

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a type of plant that people use to make blue dye.

For teachers: any of various plants, especially those in the genus Indigofera, from which the blue dye is obtained.

- Farmers in the region used to grow indigo as their main crop.
- The cultivation of indigo required specific soil conditions and intensive labor to process the leaves into usable pigment blocks.

## Examples

- She wore a beautiful indigo dress to the party.
- The artist mixed deep blues and purples to capture the indigo hues of the ocean at dusk.
- Historically, indigo was a highly prized natural dye extracted from plants, serving as a primary export for several colonial economies before the advent of synthetic alternatives.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.