violet vs purple

violet and purple both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
violet	Yes	Yes	No	No
purple	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

As adjectives, violet and purple are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of violet include purplish.

As nouns, purple is a hypernym of violet; that is, purple is a word with a broader meaning than violet:

Other hypernyms of violet include purpleness.

violet (noun)	purple (noun)
a variable color that lies beyond blue in the spectrum	(Roman Catholic Church) official dress of a cardinal; so named after the Tyrial purple color of the robes
any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers	a color between red and blue
	(in ancient Rome) position of imperial status

violet (adjective)	purple (adjective)
of a color intermediate between red and blue	of a color intermediate between red and blue
	belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler
	excessively elaborate or showily expressed

violet (verb)	purple (verb)
	color purple
	become purple