marigold
Americannoun
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any of several chiefly golden-flowered composite plants, especially of the genus Tagetes, as T. erecta, having strong-scented foliage and yielding an oil that repels root parasites.
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any of several unrelated plants, especially of the genus Calendula, as C. officinalis, the pot marigold.
noun
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any of various tropical American plants of the genus Tagetes, esp T. erecta ( African marigold ) and T. patula ( French marigold ), cultivated for their yellow or orange flower heads and strongly scented foliage: family Asteraceae (composites)
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any of various similar or related plants, such as the marsh marigold, pot marigold, bur marigold, and fig marigold
Usage
What does marigold mean? A marigold is a bright orange or yellow flower. The name marigold can be used for any plant in the genus Tagetes. The plants are known for their flowers and fragrant leaves. Common varieties include the French marigold (Tagetes patula), the African marigold (Tagetes erecta), and the Signet marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia). Other unrelated plant species referred to as marigolds include the fig marigold, pot marigold, bur marigold, and marsh marigold. Marigolds are often planted in gardens and are known to attract pollinators. Marigold flowers have cultural significance in Mexico and India, where they are often used for celebrations. Marigolds are also sometimes used in herbal medicine and even in cooking—most marigold flowers are edible. Marigolds are one of the birth flowers for October (a flower that’s associated with a particular month in the same way as a birthstone). Example: I planted marigolds next to my cabbages this year.
Etymology
Origin of marigold
Compare meaning
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Vocabulary lists containing marigold
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Orange
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The three women's lives have unfolded in ways both expected and painfully believable - Marigold is still not managing to take her medication or settle into stability.
From BBC • Aug. 27, 2025
The actor’s later roles in “Quartet,” 2011’s “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” and others reflect a shedding of vanity and hang-ups that Violet couldn’t quite release, all honest reflections of aging.
From Salon • Oct. 1, 2024
In addition to “Downton Abbey” and the eight-film blockbuster “Harry Potter” saga, Smith starred in several projects teeming with established British talent, including the “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” films and “The Lady in the Van.”
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 27, 2024
Her character, Marigold, is a woman without a family or a home who is fighting for a better life.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 30, 2024
“Thanks, Will. Maybe next I should try something a little less mess—” Marigold looked up.
From "A Tangle of Knots" by Lisa Graff
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
