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florist

American  
[flawr-ist, flohr-, flor-] / ˈflɔr ɪst, ˈfloʊr-, ˈflɒr- /

noun

florists plural
  1. a retailer of flowers, ornamental plants, etc.

  2. a grower of flowers.


florist British  
/ ˈflɒrɪst /

noun

  1. a person who grows or deals in flowers

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of florist

First recorded in 1615–25; flor- + -ist

Explanation

A florist is someone whose job involves arranging and selling cut flowers. If you can't decide what flowers to buy your mom for Mother's Day, you can ask a florist for advice. It's most common to call the owner or manager of a flower shop a florist, although the word is also used to mean a person who grows flowers meant for cutting. Whether you're buying flowers for a sick friend or planning the bouquets for a wedding, a florist is the person you should consult. Florist comes from the French fleuriste, from the Latin root word flos, or "flower."

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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.

See Examples For:

And he's not the only one, with florist Kadir Kokus saying sales had been badly hit since the boards were erected late last month.

From Barron's Jul. 4, 2026

Hustled from the scene by a neighboring florist, she meets the vigilant but eccentric Neighborhood Watch group at the home of reclusive former detective Augusta Dupin.

From Los Angeles Times May 12, 2026

My mom worked a number of service jobs over the course of her life, whether it was as a baker or a florist at a grocery store or working at a customer call center.

From Salon Apr. 27, 2026

The award-winning Florería Atlántico in Buenos Aires—which expanded to Washington, D.C. last fall—sits beneath a working florist, accessed via a staircase concealed by a fridge.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 14, 2026

We used it every day; it’s how we would locate the address of a locksmith or florist or furniture upholsterer, or any number of the women who volunteered in my mother’s benevolent societies.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

The raids also affected small businesses orbiting around quinceañeras: makers of embossed invitations, sellers of tiaras and crowns, choreographers, caterers, florists and more.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 7, 2026

“The competitive landscape is intensifying as consumers easily compare prices and reviews, forcing florists to continually innovate to retain market share.”

From The Wall Street Journal May 22, 2026

It also said florists could employ staff to sell fragrant lily of the valley, which is traditionally sold on Labour Day in France.

From Barron's May 1, 2026

Maria, who owns a florists off King's Road, said the bridge closure was causing delivery delays for her business.

From BBC Feb. 10, 2026

Tuxedos went to the cleaners; flowers came from the florists; Bunny put away his copy of The Bride of Fu Manchu and started carrying around a volume of Homer instead.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

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