What does the color purple mean?

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Color meaning

What does the color purple mean?

Purple means royalty, luxury, wisdom and mystery. For centuries the only purple dye came from murex sea snails - about 10,000 of them for a single gram - so only emperors and kings could afford it, and the link to power stuck long after cheap synthetic purple arrived in 1856.

Color meanings

Purple means royalty, luxury, wisdom and mystery. For centuries the only purple dye came from murex sea snails - about 10,000 of them for a single gram - so only emperors and kings could afford it, and the link to power stuck long after cheap synthetic purple arrived in 1856.

Purple

Web standard · #800080

Psychology

Positive

  • Royalty and nobility
  • Creativity and imagination
  • Wisdom and dignity
  • Spirituality

Negative

  • Arrogance
  • Excess and extravagance
  • Moodiness

Around the world

Ancient Rome
Tyrian purple togas were reserved for emperors and senators.
England
Elizabeth I's sumptuary laws banned anyone outside the royal family from wearing purple silk.
Thailand and Brazil
A colour of mourning, worn by widows in Thailand.
United States
The Purple Heart is awarded to soldiers wounded or killed in service.

Spiritual meaning

Violet is tied to the crown chakra, the top of the head, and stands for higher consciousness and connection to the divine. Christian churches use purple for Advent and Lent, the seasons of reflection.

In branding

Cadbury, Twitch, Yahoo and FedEx use purple to read as premium, playful or different. It is rare in most categories, so it stands out on a shelf.

Frequently asked questions

What does the color purple mean?

Purple means royalty, luxury, wisdom and mystery. For centuries the only purple dye came from murex sea snails - about 10,000 of them for a single gram - so only emperors and kings could afford it, and the link to power stuck long after cheap synthetic purple arrived in 1856.

What does purple mean spiritually?

Violet is tied to the crown chakra, the top of the head, and stands for higher consciousness and connection to the divine. Christian churches use purple for Advent and Lent, the seasons of reflection.

What does purple mean in different cultures?

Ancient Rome: Tyrian purple togas were reserved for emperors and senators. England: Elizabeth I's sumptuary laws banned anyone outside the royal family from wearing purple silk. Thailand and Brazil: A colour of mourning, worn by widows in Thailand. United States: The Purple Heart is awarded to soldiers wounded or killed in service.

Why do brands use purple?

Cadbury, Twitch, Yahoo and FedEx use purple to read as premium, playful or different. It is rare in most categories, so it stands out on a shelf.

What is the hex code for purple?

The standard web purple is #800080, or rgb(128, 0, 128).

Other color meanings