florid
Americanadjective
-
reddish; ruddy; rosy.
a florid complexion.
- Antonyms:
- pale
-
flowery; excessively ornate; showy.
florid writing.
- Synonyms:
- gaudy, flash, rococo, grandiloquent, flamboyant
- Antonyms:
- unaffected, simple, plain
-
Obsolete. abounding in or consisting of flowers.
adjective
-
having a red or flushed complexion
-
excessively ornate; flowery
florid architecture
-
an archaic word for flowery
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of florid
1635–45; < Latin flōridus, equivalent to flōr ( ēre ) to bloom ( see florescence) + -idus -id 4
Explanation
Something that's elaborate and full of extra flourishes is florid, whether it's your relatives' ornate decorating style or the way they talk, using a lot of unnecessarily long, complicated words. Florid is an adjective that entered English in the 17th century, via the French floride, from the Latin flōridus, "blooming." You can probably guess how Florida and flourish are related! Something overly decorated, such as a fussy living room, is florid in the flowery sense, while pale-skinned people with rosy cheeks are florid because they appear to be flourishing with good health.
Vocabulary lists containing florid
100 Top "SAT" Words
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!
To Kill a Mockingbird
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!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "F"
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.
The inclusion of Mr. Dominé’s florid prose and his fellow citizens’ good manners are parts of what makes “Glitterball” a supremely creative example of creative documentary.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 17, 2026
As The Scythe illustrates, From The Pyre is a deeply personal record – even though the band have a tendency to self-mythologise and dress their stories in florid, theatrical outfits.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2025
Hoffman has done a marvelous job of reading through Aimee’s voluminous, florid writings and creating a narrative that works for the modern ear.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2025
From its florid dialogue and thrilling subtleties in each actor’s performance to its sets, props, and the further development of Lumon’s bizarre mythology, it’s constantly refreshing the viewer’s delight in being confused.
From Salon ● Jan. 17, 2025
Mr. Justice Dana was a stout and florid man, dressed in a black silk robe and a great woolly white wig.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
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.
