hibiscus

American

[hahy-bis-kuhs, hi-] / haɪˈbɪs kəs, hɪ- /

noun

plural

hibiscuses

Also called China rose. a woody plant, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, of the mallow family, having large, showy flowers: the state flower of Hawaii.
any of numerous other plants, shrubs, or trees of the genus Hibiscus, characterized by lobate or dentate leaves and usually profusely blooming flowers.

hibiscus British

/ haɪˈbɪskəs /

noun

any plant of the chiefly tropical and subtropical malvaceous genus Hibiscus, esp H. rosa-sinensis, cultivated for its large brightly coloured 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

Etymology

Origin of hibiscus

1700–10; < New Latin, Latin < Greek hibískos mallow

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.

Property records reveal that the home, which is situated in Miami Beach on a human-made island, was snapped up by Hibiscus East LLC for $46 million.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026

Upstream players such as Hibiscus Petroleum and Dialog will likely benefit from higher realized oil prices.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026

My time at Hibiscus and EMP, along with my entire culinary background, was rooted in high-end, precise techniques and classical training.

From Salon • Nov. 13, 2024

Among the batakari on show in Purple Hibiscus are those donated by old chiefs.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2024

Hibiscus recoiled slightly, stunned by Redemption’s resistance, even through his anger.

From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023