ultraviolet

adjective

ul·​tra·​vi·​o·​let ˌəl-trə-ˈvī-(ə-)lət 

1

: situated beyond the visible spectrum at its violet end

—used of radiation having a wavelength shorter than wavelengths of visible light and longer than those of X-rays

2

: relating to, producing, or employing ultraviolet radiation

ultraviolet noun

Examples of ultraviolet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Skin in the game Another entrant in last year's startup contest pitched a biotech company that helps people track their exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays and potentially detect skin cancer earlier. — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

The Tsinghua system generates ultraviolet light using cadmium vapor heated to 1,112 degrees Fahrenheit. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026

The footage was captured on July 24, according to an ESA statement accompanying the image, just two weeks after SMILE's ultraviolet imager was switched on, offering an exciting first taste of the science to come. — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Though ozone high up in Earth’s stratosphere provides protection from ultraviolet radiation to people and other life on the planet, ground-level ozone is a toxic pollutant. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ultraviolet

• far-ultraviolet
• near-ultraviolet

Rhymes for ultraviolet

• inviolate
• violet

Kids Definition

ultraviolet

adjective

ul·​tra·​vi·​o·​let ˌəl-trə-ˈvī-ə-lət 

1

: located beyond the visible spectrum at its violet end and having a wavelength shorter than those of visible light but longer than those of X-rays

2

: relating to, producing, or using ultraviolet radiation

ultraviolet noun

Medical Definition

ultraviolet

1 of 2 adjective

ul·​tra·​vi·​o·​let ˌəl-trə-ˈvī-(ə-)lət 

1

: situated beyond the visible spectrum at its violet end

—used of radiation having a wavelength shorter than wavelengths of visible light and longer than those of X-rays

2

: relating to, producing, or employing ultraviolet radiation

ultraviolet

2 of 2 noun

: ultraviolet radiation