hibiscus
Americannoun
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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
Currently, I have cherries on my nails but before this, I had yellow French tips with hibiscus flowers for the summer.
From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2024
As noted, this libation landed a gold medal at the inaugural High Spirits Awards, as did another flavor in the Fable stable; a blend of hibiscus, ginger and mint called Night Flight.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2023
Red hibiscus that iguana like to eat are small flames, and trees with flower petals falling with every light breeze makes me feel like I’ve stepped into another world entirely.
From "Hurricane Child" by Kheryn Callender
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
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
“See, the purple hibiscuses are about to bloom,” Jaja said, as we got out of the car.
From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Roses and hibiscuses and lilies and ixora and croton grew side by side like a hand- painted wreath.
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
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.
