votive candle

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablereligion

   A small candle lit in a church or shrine as a prayer or offering, often for a person or a wish.

   Grammar: Countable: light a votive candle, several votive candles.

   Patterns

   • light a votive candle for someone
   • a votive candle in front of something

   She lit a votive candle for her grandmother.

   Rows of votive candles flickered in front of the statue.

   Visitors can leave a coin and light a votive candle.

2. 2nouncountable

   A short, usually round candle made to burn in a small glass or cup, used for decoration or atmosphere at home.

   Grammar: Often used in sets, such as a box of votive candles.

   Patterns

   • a votive candle in a holder
   • a box of votive candles

   They placed votive candles on every table at the wedding.

   I bought a vanilla votive candle for the living room.

   The room glowed softly with votive candles.

Word forms

Common combinations

light a votive candle

He lit a votive candle at the altar.

a votive candle holder

The votive candle holder was made of colored glass.

a scented votive candle

A scented votive candle sat beside the bath.

votive candles flicker

Votive candles flickered along the wall.

burn a votive candle

Burn a votive candle during dinner.

Synonyms and how they differ

tealight

A tealight is a tiny candle in a metal cup, shorter and cheaper than a typical votive candle.

prayer candle

Prayer candle stresses religious use, whereas votive candle covers both religious and decorative use.

pillar candle

A pillar candle is taller and freestanding, unlike a votive, which usually needs a holder.

Word family

votive adjective

given or done to fulfill a promise or wish

vote noun

related in origin through the idea of a solemn wish

candle noun

a stick of wax with a wick

Commonly confused: votive candle or tealight?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “votive candle”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words