Meanings
nounalexandrite (countable and uncountable, plural alexandrites)
plural alexandrites
- countableuncountablechemistryA form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change dependent upon the light source, along with strong pleochroism.
[…] the body of each high seat was a single jewel of monstrous size: the left-hand seat a black opal, asparkle with steel-blue fire, the next a fire-opal, as it were a burning coal, the third seat an alexandrite, purple like wine by night but deep sea-green by day.
1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance, London: Jonathan Cape […], →OCLC, page 2
Origin
From Alexander + -ite, named after Alexander II of Russia.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 金綠寶石 /金绿宝石, 變石 /变石
- 金綠寶石 /金绿宝石form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change
- 變石 /变石form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change
- 紫翠玉form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change
- 亞歷山大石 /亚历山大石form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change
- 變色石 /变色石form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change
Finnish aleksandriitti
- aleksandriittiform of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change
French alexandrite
- alexandriteform of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change
Greek αλεξανδρίτης
- αλεξανδρίτης (alexandrítis)form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change
Italian alessandrite
- alessandriteform of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change
Japanese 金緑石, クリソベリル
- 金緑石 (kinryokuseki)form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change
- クリソベリル (kurisoberiru)form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change
- アレキサンドライトform of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change
Polish aleksandryt
- aleksandrytform of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change
Portuguese alexandrita
- alexandritaform of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change
Romanian alexandrit
- alexandritform of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change
Russian александри́т
- александри́т (aleksandrít)form of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change
Spanish alejandrita
- alejandritaform of chrysoberyl that displays a colour change
Cite this entry
APA
alexandrite. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/alexandrite
MLA
“alexandrite.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/alexandrite. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “alexandrite,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/alexandrite.
Source: alexandrite on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.