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

Florist Abriana Vicioso is reimagining the traditional flower workshop as a communal “guided journey,” using botanical arts to foster healing and connection in the heart of Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Sure, maybe they aren't bespoke flower arrangements from Sag Harbor Florist, Gartens's flower shop of choice, but the Trader Joe's bouquets are looking pretty nice this year, too.

From Salon • Aug. 2, 2023

Florist Ingrid Carozzi of Tin Can Studios in Brooklyn cited other issues with floral arrangements beyond the use of non-biodegradable foam, such as bleaching and chemically dyeing flowers to achieve unnatural colors.

From Seattle Times • May 18, 2022

Florist Carol Parr clips the ends of flower stems on a bouquet as she explains the dilemma she faced.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2022

As he was about to give it to Esperance, the maid entered with a large box marked "Lachaume," Florist, which she gave to Mlle.

From The Idol of Paris by Bernhardt, Sarah