Verdigris
noun /ˈvɜː.dɪ.ɡriːs/ — The blue-green patina on copper
Definition
The blue-green patina formed on copper, brass, or bronze by oxidation — the characteristic colour of aged copper roofs, old coins, and bronze statues.
Beyond the definition
The colour of time on metal. Verdigris is what happens when copper meets the air long enough — it is the colour of history made visible.
Origin & history
From Old French 'verd de Grece' (green of Greece) — the origin is uncertain, but the connection to Greek copper work is plausible. The colour was associated with the green copper of ancient Mediterranean metalwork.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The church roof had gone verdigris over the centuries — the copper telling time in colour.
She loved the Statue of Liberty's verdigris — the green of a copper that has been standing in weather for a hundred years.
The old penny had started to verdigris at the edges, the metal beginning its long surrender to air.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Verdigris” when the meaning fits your context: The blue-green patina formed on copper, brass, or bronze by oxidation — the characteristic colour of aged copper roofs, old coins, and bronze statues.
Synonyms
patina, copper-green, blue-green oxidation
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Worn Traces of Ancient Objects
An archaeologist studies a worn seal, a geometric tablet, a clay pot, and other objects on a desk, all lit by candlelight.
Verdigris is the blue-green patina that forms on copper and bronze. The worn seal and tablet, which have likely developed a similar aged patina through centuries of exposure, visually embody the passage of time and the accumulation of oxidation that defines the colour verdigris.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Verdigris" mean?
Verdigris is noun meaning: The blue-green patina on copper. The blue-green patina formed on copper, brass, or bronze by oxidation — the characteristic colour of aged copper roofs, old coins, and bronze statues.
Where does the word "Verdigris" come from?
From Old French 'verd de Grece' (green of Greece) — the origin is uncertain, but the connection to Greek copper work is plausible. The colour was associated with the green copper of ancient Mediterranean metalwork.