- any precious corundum gemstone that is not red, esp the highly valued transparent blue variety. A synthetic form is used in electronics and precision apparatus. Formula: Al2O3
- (as modifier): a sapphire ring
- the blue colour of sapphire
- (as adjective): sapphire eyes
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
sap•phire /ˈsæfaɪr/USA pronunciation
n.
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Mineralogya gem, a variety of corundum other than the ruby, esp. one that is blue: [uncountable]a ring of sapphire.[countable]beautiful sapphires in her earrings.
- [uncountable] the deep blue color of this gem.
adj.
- deep blue.
sap•phire
(saf′īər),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
- Mineralogyany gem variety of corundum other than the ruby, esp. one of the blue varieties.
- Jewelrya gem of this kind.
- the color of this gem, a deep blue.
adj.
- resembling sapphire;
deep blue:a sapphire sky.
- Latin, as above
- Old French
- Semitic (compare Hebrew sappīr; ulterior origin, originally obscure); replacing Middle English safir
- Greek sáppheiros, probably
- Latin sapphīrus
- 1225–75
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
sapphire /ˈsæfaɪə/ n
'sapphire' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
amethyst
- boule
- corundum
- precious stone
- star sapphire
- stylus
- topaz
- zaffer
- blue
- Brazilian sapphire
- Hope diamond
- hyacinth
- Mohs scale
- padparadschah sapphire
- water sapphire
- white sapphire
- Sapphira
- sapphirine
- shank
- star