florist

American  

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

noun

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

2. a grower of flowers.

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florist British  

/ ˈflɒrɪst /

noun

1. a person who grows or deals in flowers

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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."

Example Sentences

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

América Peraza, a florist in Mexico City, gushes over García Harfuch, describing him as handsome, intelligent and elegant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

She works as a florist and models on the side, even appearing in the pages of Vogue.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026

A florist is urging people not to buy red roses for Valentine's Day this year and buy locally grown flowers instead.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 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