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Definition of wild indigo
wild indigo
Plural:wild indigos
wild indigo Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American Any of several herbaceous perennial plants of the genus Baptisia within the legume family, native to the prairies and woodlands of North America, characterized by tall spikes of pea-like flowers and historically utilized to produce a blue dye.
Example
"The restored prairie was dotted with the vibrant blue and yellow flowers of wild indigo during the early summer months."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for wild indigo• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name reflects its historical use by early European settlers in North America, who used these native, uncultivated plants as a substitute for true indigo (Indigofera) to produce a blue dye.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Wild indigo. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/wild indigo