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Synonyms

posy

American  
[poh-zee] / ˈpoʊ zi /

noun

posies plural
  1. a flower, nosegay, or bouquet.

  2. Archaic. a brief motto or the like, as one inscribed within a ring.


posy British  
/ ˈpəʊzɪ /

noun

  1. a small bunch of flowers or a single flower; nosegay

  2. archaic a brief motto or inscription, esp one on a trinket or a ring

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of posy

1400–50; late Middle English; syncopated variant of poesy

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:

Before being driven away from the airport, the Queen received a posy of flowers from young people.

From BBC Oct. 18, 2024

What if instead of staying in the tomb, she skedaddled with a posy to the Renaissance club scene in Paris and found a new love?

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 11, 2023

Once, on the way to school in the second grade, I gathered a small posy of pinks for my teacher.

From Seattle Times May 14, 2022

All that weeding and planting, mulching and mowing leaves one too exhausted for any but the most enthralling books — such as those in this springtime posy of favorite recent titles.

From Washington Post Apr. 6, 2021

“I guess the princess gave him a posy, and opened the gate after a while,” said Laurie, smiling to himself, as he threw acorns at his tutor.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

Forget that box of bonbons or bouquet of posies.

From MarketWatch Feb. 13, 2026

The space blends comfy banquettes and an industrial exposed-pipe ceiling with airy Scandinavian décor accented by floral black and white Marimekko wall hangings, one with splashes of purple posies.

From New York Times Jan. 23, 2020

Her desk is full of posies, awards, family photos and framed magazine covers from science journals.

From The Guardian Apr. 16, 2019

Now we don’t mean you’re expected to go around like a pirouetting Pollyanna, tossing posies at everyone who passes by, but we do want to make a point.

From Salon Nov. 19, 2018

“Human life isn’t all posies and roses. We’ll bring you drama!”

From "Landscape with Invisible Hand" by M.T. Anderson

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