Blue vs. Indigo: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Blue is a primary color, lighter and more vibrant, while indigo is a secondary color, darker and resembling a mix of blue and violet.
Key Differences
Blue is a primary color in the RGB color model, often associated with depth and stability, symbolizing trust, loyalty, and wisdom. Indigo, a secondary color, is deeper and closer to violet, traditionally used in dyeing fabrics and represents intuition and perception.
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In terms of wavelength, blue light ranges between 450 and 495 nanometers, creating a bright and clear appearance. Conversely, indigo occupies a narrower range, typically around 420 to 450 nanometers, giving it a darker, more subdued look.
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The emotional connotations of blue include calmness and serenity, often used in designs to evoke a sense of tranquility. In contrast, indigo is frequently associated with spirituality and deep contemplation, reflecting its historical use in royal and religious garments.
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Blue is more prevalent in nature, visible in the sky and ocean, symbolizing openness and freedom. Indigo is rarer in natural settings, often associated with twilight and hence, is seen as more mysterious and introspective.
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Historically, blue has been a color of significance in many cultures, representing various meanings from trust to sadness. Indigo, known for its use in the indigo dye, has a rich history in trade and was once a valuable commodity, symbolizing wealth and power.
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Comparison Chart
Color Spectrum
A primary color on the visible spectrum.
A secondary color, between blue and violet.
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Cultural Significance
Symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, and sadness.
Often associated with intuition and spirituality.
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Use in Language
Commonly used to describe feelings or emotions.
Less common in everyday language.
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Visibility in Nature
Prevalent in natural settings (sky, ocean).
Less common in nature, associated with twilight.
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Historical Importance
Widely used in art and symbolism.
Valued in ancient dyeing practices.
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Blue and Indigo Definitions
Indigo
A natural dye extracted from the indigo plant.
Indigo was used to color the fabric a deep blue.
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Blue
Referring to something of a risqué or indecent nature.
The comedian's jokes were a bit too blue for the audience.
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Indigo
Sometimes used to describe the deep colors of space.
The indigo void of space was mesmerizing.
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Blue
In heraldry, blue is known as azure and symbolizes truth and loyalty.
The knight's shield was adorned with blue to represent his fidelity.
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Indigo
Represents intuition and perception.
In her paintings, indigo often symbolized mystery and depth.
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Blue
The hue of that portion of the visible spectrum lying between green and indigo, evoked in the human observer by radiant energy with wavelengths of approximately 420 to 490 nanometers; any of a group of colors that may vary in lightness and saturation, whose hue is that of a clear daytime sky; one of the additive or light primaries; one of the psychological primary hues.
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Indigo
A deep color between blue and violet.
The artist chose indigo for the night sky in her painting.
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Indigo
Associated with wealth and power in ancient times.
Indigo robes were once worn by royalty.
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Indigo
Any of various shrubs or herbs of the genus Indigofera in the pea family, having pinnately compound leaves and usually red or purple flowers in axillary racemes.
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Indigo
A dark blue crystalline compound, C16H10N2O2, that is obtained from these plants or produced synthetically and is widely used as a textile dye. Also called indigotin.
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Indigo
Any of several related plants, especially those of the genera Amorpha and Baptisia.
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Indigo
The hue of that portion of the visible spectrum lying between blue and violet, evoked in the human observer by radiant energy with wavelengths of approximately 420 to 450 nanometers; a dark blue to grayish purple blue.
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Indigo
An indigo-colored dye obtained from certain plants (the indigo plant or woad), or a similar synthetic dye.
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Indigo
An indigo plant, such as from species in genera Indigofera, Amorpha (false indigo), Baptisia (wild indigo), and Psorothamnus and Dalea (indigo bush).
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Indigo
A blue dyestuff obtained from several plants belonging to very different genera and orders, such as, the woad, Isatis tinctoria (family Cruciferae), Indigofera suffroticosa, Indigofera tinctoria (family Leguminosae), Indigofera Anil, Nereum tinctorium, Polygonum tinctorium Ait. (family Polygonaceae), etc.; called also natural indigo. It is a dark blue earthy substance, tasteless and odorless, with a copper-violet luster when rubbed. Indigo does not exist in the plants as such, but is obtained by decomposition of the glycoside indican.
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Blue
Bluish or having parts that are blue or bluish, as the blue spruce and the blue whale.
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Indigo
Deciduous subshrub of southeastern Asia having pinnate leaves and clusters of red or purple flowers; a source of indigo dye
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Blue
Being a trail, as for skiing, marked with a sign having a blue square, indicating an intermediate level of difficulty.
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Blue
(health care) Having a bluish or purplish shade of the skin due to a lack of oxygen to the normally deep red blood cells.
The divers got them out of the car just in time – they were starting to turn blue.
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Blue
Pale, without redness or glare; said of a flame.
The candle burns blue.
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Blue
(politics) Supportive of, run by (a member of), pertaining to, or dominated by a political party represented by the colour blue.
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Blue
Supportive of, run by (a member of), pertaining to, or dominated by the Democratic Party.
I live in a blue constituency.
Congress turned blue in the mid-term elections.
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Blue
Supportive of or related to the Liberal Party.
Illawarra turns blue in Liberal washout
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Blue
(astronomy) Of the higher-frequency region of the part of the electromagnetic spectrum which is relevant in the specific observation.
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Blue
(archaic) Severe or overly strict in morals; gloomy.
Blue and sour religionists;
Blue laws
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Blue
(informal) Risqué; obscene; profane; pornographic.
His material is too blue for prime-time
The air was blue with oaths.
A blue movie
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Blue
The colour of the clear sky or the deep sea, between green and purple in the visible spectrum, and one of the primary additive colours for transmitted light; the colour obtained by subtracting red and green from white light using magenta and cyan filters; or any colour resembling this.
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Blue
Anything coloured blue, especially to distinguish it from similar objects differing only in color.
I don't like red Smarties. Have you got a blue?
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Blue
A member of a sports team that wears blue colours; (in the plural) a nickname for the team as a whole. See also blues.
Come on you blues!
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Blue
An umpire, in reference to the typical dark blue color of the umpire's uniform. Sometimes perceived by umpires as derogatory when used by players or coaches while disputing a call.
He was safe! Terrible call, blue!
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Blue
Sporting colours awarded by a university or other institution for sporting achievement, such as representing one's university, especially and originally at Oxford and Cambridge Universities in England. See also full blue, half blue.
He excelled at rowing and received a blue in the sport at Oxford.
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Blue
A person who has received such sporting colours.
He was a blue in rugby at Cambridge.
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Blue
The sky, literally or figuratively.
The balloon floated up into the blue.
His request for leave came out of the blue.
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Blue
(snooker) One of the colour balls used in snooker, with a value of five points.
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Blue
(entomology) Any of the butterflies of the subfamily Polyommatinae in the family Lycaenidae, most of which have blue on their wings.
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Blue
A liquid with an intense blue colour, added to a laundry wash to prevent yellowing of white clothes.
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Blue
(UK) A member or supporter of the Conservative Party.
He is a true blue.
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Blue
To treat the surface of steel so that it is passivated chemically and becomes more resistant to rust.
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Blue
Having the color of the clear sky, or a hue resembling it, whether lighter or darker; as, the deep, blue sea; as blue as a sapphire; blue violets.
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Blue
Pale, without redness or glare, - said of a flame; hence, of the color of burning brimstone, betokening the presence of ghosts or devils; as, the candle burns blue; the air was blue with oaths.
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Blue
Suited to produce low spirits; gloomy in prospect; as, thongs looked blue.
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Blue
Severe or over strict in morals; gloom; as, blue and sour religionists; suiting one who is over strict in morals; inculcating an impracticable, severe, or gloomy mortality; as, blue laws.
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Blue
Literary; - applied to women; - an abbreviation of bluestocking.
The ladies were very blue and well informed.
For his religion . . . 'T was Presbyterian, true blue.
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Blue
One of the seven colors into which the rays of light divide themselves, when refracted through a glass prism; the color of the clear sky, or a color resembling that, whether lighter or darker; a pigment having such color.
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Blue
To make blue; to dye of a blue color; to make blue by heating, as metals, etc.
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Blue
Any organization or party whose uniforms or badges are blue;
The Union army was a vast blue
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Blue
The sodium salt of amobarbital that is used as a barbiturate; used as a sedative and a hypnotic
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Blue
Any of numerous small chiefly blue butterflies of the family Lycaenidae
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Blue
Having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky;
October's bright blue weather
A blue flame
Blue haze of tobacco smoke
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Blue
Used to signify the Union forces in the Civil War (who wore blue uniforms);
A ragged blue line
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Blue
Low in spirits;
Lonely and blue in a strange city
Depressed by the loss of his job
A dispirited and resigned expression on her face
Downcast after his defeat
Feeling discouraged and downhearted
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Blue
Characterized by profanity or cursing;
Foul-mouthed and blasphemous
Blue language
Profane words
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Blue
Suggestive of sexual impropriety;
A blue movie
Blue jokes
He skips asterisks and gives you the gamy details
A juicy scandal
A naughty wink
Naughty words
Racy anecdotes
A risque story
Spicy gossip
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Blue
Belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy;
An aristocratic family
Aristocratic Bostonians
Aristocratic government
A blue family
Blue blood
The blue-blooded aristocracy
Of gentle blood
Patrician landholders of the American South
Aristocratic bearing
Aristocratic features
Patrician tastes
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Blue
Morally rigorous and strict;
Blue laws
The puritan work ethic
Puritanic distaste for alcohol
She was anything but puritanical in her behavior
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Blue
Causing dejection;
A blue day
The dark days of the war
A week of rainy depressing weather
A disconsolate winter landscape
The first dismal dispiriting days of November
A dark gloomy day
Grim rainy weather
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Blue
A primary color resembling the clear sky.
The sky was a deep shade of blue at noon.
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Blue
A genre characterized by expressive rhythms and melodies.
He played a soulful blue tune on his guitar.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is the primary difference between blue and indigo?
Blue is a primary color, lighter and more vibrant, while indigo is a secondary color, darker and closer to violet.
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Are blue and indigo used differently in art?
Yes, blue is more versatile and common, while indigo is used for specific effects and depth.
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Is indigo considered a shade of blue?
Yes, indigo is often considered a shade of blue, but it is distinct due to its darker and more violet tone.
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Can indigo and blue be mixed in design?
Yes, they are often mixed to create depth and contrast in design.
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Is indigo a warm or cool color?
Indigo is considered a cool color, leaning towards the violet spectrum.
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Which is more common in nature, blue or indigo?
Blue is more common in nature, seen in the sky and oceans.
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What are some common phrases using the word "blue"?
"Feeling blue," "out of the blue," "true blue."
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What does blue symbolize?
Blue symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, and sometimes sadness.
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What does indigo represent?
Indigo often represents intuition, spirituality, and deep contemplation.
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Are there any idiomatic expressions using "indigo"?
Indigo isn't commonly used in idiomatic expressions.
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What is the historical significance of indigo?
Indigo was a valuable commodity in ancient dyeing practices and trade.
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Can everyone perceive the color indigo the same?
Perception of indigo can vary, as it's close to the edge of the visible spectrum.
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Is indigo used in flags or heraldry?
Indigo is less common in flags and heraldry compared to blue.
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How do blue and indigo affect mood in psychology?
Blue is calming and stabilizing, while indigo is introspective and thought-provoking.
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What genres of music are associated with blue?
The blues genre is closely associated with the color blue.
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What is the historical importance of blue?
Blue has been important in art, symbolism, and as a pigment in various cultures.
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Do blue and indigo have different wavelengths?
Yes, blue ranges between 450 and 495 nm, while indigo is between 420 and 450 nm.
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Is the word "blue" used in technology?
Yes, in terms like "Bluetooth" and "blue screen."
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How is indigo produced naturally?
Indigo is naturally produced from the indigo plant used in dyeing processes.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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