variegated
adjective
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The Colorful History of Variegated
Variegated has been adding color to our language since the 17th century. It is used in botany to describe the presence of two or more colors in the leaves, petals, or other parts of plants, and it also appears in the names of some animals (such as the variegated cutworm). It can be used by the general speaker to refer to anything marked with different colors ("a variegated silk robe," for instance) or to things that are simply various and diverse ("a variegated collection"). Variegated has a variety of relatives in English—it is ultimately derived from the Latin root varius, meaning "varied," which also gave us vary, various, and variety.
Examples of variegated in a Sentence
Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2025
Dinner parties throughout the season begin with simple salads of charmingly unusual cucumbers and variegated lettuces that look hand-painted by a Dutch master.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 July 2025
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s variegated Cornus controversa or other such miraculous botanical creations no matter how much thou might experience those dark and uncontrollable urges.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
The colorful variegated foliage and charming fringed flowers add a pop of color and instant curb appeal.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for variegated
Cite this Entry
“Variegated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/variegated. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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