Definition

1. Noun:
   • A United States military decoration: The Purple Heart is a medal awarded by the U.S. government to members of its armed forces who have been wounded or killed in action against an enemy.
   • A type of barbiturate drug: (Slang, dated) "Purple heart" was a street name for a specific long-acting barbiturate tablet, used as a sedative, which was sometimes physically purple in color.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Military Decoration):
  • The soldier received a Purple Heart for injuries sustained during combat.
  • Displaying his Purple Heart, the veteran spoke about his service.
• Noun (Drug, slang):
  • (Historical/dated usage) In the mid-20th century, "purple hearts" were a subject of concern regarding drug abuse.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used metonymically to represent sacrifice, injury, or service in the U.S. military.
  • His Purple Heart is a testament to his bravery and sacrifice for the country.

Variants and Related Words

• The Purple Heart: The official and most common way to refer to the medal.
• Purple Heart recipient: A person who has been awarded the medal.

Synonyms

• For the medal: (There is no direct synonym; it is a proper noun for a specific award. Related concepts include , .)
• For the drug: (Historical) , , (slang).

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• To be awarded a Purple Heart: The standard phrase for receiving the medal.
  • He was awarded a Purple Heart after being wounded by shrapnel.
• To earn a Purple Heart: Emphasizes the action and sacrifice required to receive it.
  • She earned her Purple Heart during a difficult deployment.

Noun

1. a long-acting barbiturate used as a sedative
2. a United States military decoration awarded to any member of the armed forces who is wounded in action