pansy

¹ American  

[pan-zee] / ˈpæn zi /

noun

plural

pansies

1. a violet, Viola tricolor hortensis, cultivated in many varieties, having richly and variously colored flowers.

2. the flower of this plant.

3. Slang.

   1. Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a gay man.

   2. Offensive. a weak, effeminate, and often cowardly man.

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Pansy ² American  

[pan-zee] / ˈpæn zi /

noun

1. a female given name.

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pansy British  

/ ˈpænzɪ /

noun

1. any violaceous garden plant that is a variety of Viola tricolor, having flowers with rounded velvety petals, white, yellow, or purple in colour See also wild pansy

2. slang an effeminate or homosexual man or boy

3. 1. a strong violet colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a pansy carpet

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Etymology

Origin of pansy

First recorded in 1490–1500, and in 1930–35 pansy for def. 3; from Middle French pensée “pansy,” literally, “thought,” noun use of feminine of past participle of penser “to think,” from Latin pēnsāre “to weigh, consider”; pensive

Example Sentences

Helen Litchfield, secretary of the botany section at La Société Guernesiaise, said the team's efforts in propagating the dwarf pansy meant it was no longer at risk.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

“We had a bright orange, leopard pansy print, which did brilliantly last season, but we wondered whether you might feel a bit brash wearing it at home,” Cameron says.

From The Guardian • Sep. 25, 2020

And some reassurance that my struggle is real, and that I’m not a weak pansy looking for an excuse for not living up to my potential.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 4, 2018

And some reassurance that my struggle is real, and that I'm not a weak pansy looking for an excuse for not living up to my potential.

From Washington Post • Sep. 3, 2018

But I wasn’t seeing him, so after I buried the last pansy I hopped onto my bicycle and headed down the sidewalk.

From "Crash" by Jerry Spinelli

Related Words

• mama's boy
• milksop
• pantywaist
• sissy
• wimp