1
: consisting of or expressing a vow, wish, or desire
a votive prayer
2
: offered or performed in fulfillment of a vow or in gratitude or devotion
votively
adverb
votiveness
noun
plural votives
: a short thick candle used especially as a prayer offering or for decoration : votive candle
… I will light a votive for those who need affordable housing and pray their needs are met.—
Mary Pat Rowland
Mary Pat RowlandA simple picture-propping shelf can display votives and flowers.—Nancy Sotomayor
compare vigil light
Nancy SotomayorExamples of votive in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 17 Dec. 2024
The votive plaque found during the 2024 excavation season at the site, which ran from mid-May to the end of July, is essentially a thin gold plate.
—Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Anna Noyes, Bon Appétit, 16 Dec. 2024
Candle lovers will delight in the rich jewel tones of the glass votives that glimmer as the flame illuminates their delicate embossing.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for votive 
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Adjective
These works evoke the votive sculptures of ancient Egypt, where animals garnered more reverence than they do now, were seen as perhaps incantations of gods.
—Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 17 Dec. 2024
The votive plaque found during the 2024 excavation season at the site, which ran from mid-May to the end of July, is essentially a thin gold plate.
—Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
In Wayne’s greenhouse—where tomato seedings unfurled each spring—we’d gather for Christmas dinner, the trusses wound with twinkle lights and the long table laid with votives.
—Anna Noyes, Bon Appétit, 16 Dec. 2024
Candle lovers will delight in the rich jewel tones of the glass votives that glimmer as the flame illuminates their delicate embossing.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for votive
Dictionary Entries Near votive
Cite this Entry
“Votive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/votive. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
votive
adjective
vo·tive
ˈvōt-iv 
: consisting of or expressing a vow, wish, or desire
a votive prayer
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