Elias Magnus Fries described this species in his 1838 book Epicrisis Systematis Mycologici seu Synopsis Hymenomycetum as Cortinarius cyanites.

[1] The species name is derived from the Ancient Greek cyanos "dark blue"[2] Within the large genus Cortinarius, it is classified in the subgenus Phlegmacium and section Cyanites.

[3] The fruitbodies of this fungus have convex caps, with diameters typically in the range 5 to 12 cm (2.0 to 4.7 in), and various shades of violet, brown or grey.

[4] The gills on the cap underside have an adnate attachment to the stipe and purple color;[4] later, the deepens to rusty brown as the spores mature.

[3] Cortinarius cyanites is found in mixed coniferous and deciduous forests in southern Finland, central Sweden southwards into France.