oleander
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of oleander
1540–50; < Medieval Latin oleander, oliandrum, obscurely akin to Late Latin laurandrum, perhaps a conflation of Latin laurus laurel and rhododendron rhododendron
Vocabulary lists containing oleander
"How It Feels to Be Colored Me"
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!
Vocabulary from Readings 2, Unit 4
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!
Vocabulary from Readings, Unit 5
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.
See Examples For:
Several other strains of the bacteria exist and can infect other host plants, including citrus, stone fruits, almonds, oleander and some shade trees, according to the California Pierce’s Disease Control Program.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
Oleandrin comes from Nerium oleander, a shrub that is deadly to humans; scientists warned the New York Times that the compound was not known to be safe.
From Slate ● Dec. 11, 2025
He’d woken up in an oleander bush with no memory of how he’d gotten there.
From Salon ● Jan. 7, 2025
Once the tree has been infected by oleander leaf scorch, leaves begin to yellow and drop.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 6, 2023
They sprinted down the dirt road, Ben taking a commanding lead with every stride, until he heard Sammy trip over a stump and somersault into an oleander bush.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
Oleander leaf scorch, which can infect olives because they are in the same family as oleanders, can cause leaf yellowing and localized defoliation.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 6, 2023
In her arrangements, Cuzzanti favors a light touch, creating airy bouquets that often pair beloved blossoms like roses, oleanders and gladiolus with more surprising elements such as artichokes and dried stems.
From New York Times ● Nov. 18, 2020
Solo acoustic guitarists play in turns as I inhale the music and heady whiffs of oleanders.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 11, 2019
“It’s heartbreaking,” he said, “to see trees dying in such dramatic numbers in famously lush cities like Pasadena, Alhambra and Arcadia: sycamores, all the maples, olives, liquidambers, flower plums, myrtles, oleanders and oaks.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 19, 2017
No one would ever find me there, either, behind all those roses, and just to make sure I would plant oleanders by the road.
From "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson
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.
