peony
Americannoun
-
peonies
plural
noun
-
any of various ranunculaceous shrubs and plants of the genus Paeonia, of Eurasia and North America, having large pink, red, white, or yellow flowers
-
the flower of any of these plants
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of peony
before 1000; Middle English < Late Latin peōnia, Latin paeōnia < Greek paiōnía peony, akin to Paiā́n paean; replacing Middle English pione < Anglo-French < Old French peone < Latin; replacing Old English peonie < Late Latin, Latin, as above
Vocabulary lists containing peony
Non-Color Words to Use When Describing Color
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Red
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Words More Women Knew on the Ghent University Online Vocabulary Test
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
It has a “deep mineral aura” and hints of driftwood and peony.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 11, 2023
I’ve witnessed the magic of a peony going from hot pink to pale coral, watched a tulip’s petals double in size and seen a rose clinging to the last glimmers of its fading bloom.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 22, 2023
I returned home to find a bed of fading peony petals — and a lesson in humility.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 22, 2023
Keep an eye on newly planted peony roots that first winter, in case they heave during temperature swings, Gagan said, and need tucking back in.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 28, 2022
“Well,” I whisper, “the flower is a peony, my father’s favorite.”
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
Minutes later, a grateful customer gave her a bouquet of pink peonies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
It told me a vase of white peonies in my bedroom contained yellow chrysanthemums, and confidently misidentified a plate of poppadoms as tortilla chips.
From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2024
However, plants that need a minimum number of winter chill hours to bloom, like lilacs and herbaceous peonies, may not do as well in this environment.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 8, 2024
Nelson isn’t a purist: She grows a few of the daylilies and peonies, both of which she remembers fondly from her childhood in rural Wisconsin.
From National Geographic ● Dec. 14, 2023
I stood as still as a vase of peonies, fearing that the two of them were about to exchange words that would send me right back to the doorstep of the Home for the Friendless.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
