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

“People are scared to open their mouths,” said Reba Campbell, 64, who works in a florist in sleepy downtown Oakdale.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 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

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

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026

"I've never seen anything like it," Ingrid, a florist in the city of Perpignan, told AFP.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

Before I could think of what to say, Mama picked up florist wire, kitchen shears, and a bucket of pink tea roses and scooted past me.

From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles