hibiscus
Americannoun
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hibiscuses
plural
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Also called China rose. a woody plant, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, of the mallow family, having large, showy flowers: the state flower of Hawaii.
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any of numerous other plants, shrubs, or trees of the genus Hibiscus, characterized by lobate or dentate leaves and usually profusely blooming flowers.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of hibiscus
1700–10; < New Latin, Latin < Greek hibískos mallow
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:
The always-bustling neighborhood will turn up a notch when Ghanaians, Ivorians and Senegalese gather over jollof rice, tart bissap drinks made from hibiscus flowers and rich, shareable lamb and seafood dishes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026
It’s meticulously organized perfection: Its various neighborhoods, gated communities, parks, and street are pristine and feature shallow lagoons and golf courses, palm trees and hibiscus, blue skies and backyard swimming pools.
From Slate ● Dec. 18, 2025
Lori Feezor, of Preservation Point, brings us Cucuzza squash, micro tomatoes and different types of hibiscus.
From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2024
They also provided baked beans, collard greens, mac ’n cheese, potato salad, maple buttermilk cornbread and hibiscus lemonade.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 21, 2023
When he saw my puzzled look, he said they weren’t just sticks; they were stalks of purple hibiscus.
From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
In such a garden, you could position ostrich ferns in and around other bog lovers: winterberry, Yaupon holly or river birch, or the herbaceous hardy hibiscuses, swamp lobelias or ligularias.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 8, 2015
They started before, when all the hibiscuses in our front yard were a startling red.
From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
“See, the purple hibiscuses are about to bloom,” Jaja said, as we got out of the car.
From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Papa stood by the hibiscuses, giving directions, one hand sunk in the pocket of his white tunic while the other pointed from item to car.
From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Jajas eyes shone as he talked about the hibiscuses, as he held them out so I could touch the cold, moist sticks.
From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Definitions 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.
