purple group · The short answer
STARTING WITH CHINESE ZODIAC ANIMALS
Each puzzle word passes the same exact test. The four mappings show how the answer works.
DRAGONFLY begins with DRAGON, one of the animal names used by the official category.
OXFORD begins with OX, so its opening supplies one of the Chinese zodiac animal names.
PIGMENT begins with PIG, matching the animal-name opening required by the category.
RATCHET begins with RAT, completing the set of animal names hidden at word openings.
Why this group was difficult
- The complete words have unrelated meanings
A dragonfly, an oxford, a pigment, and a ratchet refer to different things, so their definitions do not reveal the set. - The connection is limited to the opening
The category depends on the first letters and sounds of each word rather than on what the complete word means. - Short animal names overlap naturally
OX, PIG, and RAT are common short beginnings that can appear inside ordinary words without signaling a puzzle pattern.
How to spot this pattern next time
Inspect the first few letters of leftovers when their full definitions resist a common category.
Test whether the openings are exact animal names before relying on looser sound or letter similarities.
Read the four completed words as containers for DRAGON, OX, PIG, and RAT.
Four useful facts behind the group
- The verified hub places this category fourth in purple.
- DRAGONFLY starts with the complete animal name DRAGON.
- OXFORD starts with the two-letter animal name OX.
- PIGMENT and RATCHET start with PIG and RAT.
Questions players ask
The details people search after seeing the group
What is the purple group in Connections on August 20, 2026?
The purple group is STARTING WITH CHINESE ZODIAC ANIMALS: DRAGONFLY, OXFORD, PIGMENT, and RATCHET.
Which animal starts DRAGONFLY?
DRAGON starts DRAGONFLY, supplying one of the Chinese zodiac animal names in the purple group.
How does OXFORD fit the Chinese zodiac category?
OXFORD begins with OX, so its opening contains the zodiac animal name required by the official category.