wallflower

American  

[wawl-flou-er] / ˈwɔlˌflaʊ ər /

noun

1. a person who, because of shyness, unpopularity, or lack of a partner, remains at the side at a party or dance.

2. any person, organization, etc., that remains on or has been forced to the sidelines of any activity.

   The firm was a wallflower in this year's bidding for government contracts.

3. a European plant, Cheiranthus cheiri, of the mustard family, that, when growing wild on walls, cliffs, etc., has sweet-scented, usually yellow or orange flowers, but when cultivated has flowers varying in color from pale yellow to brown-red or purple.

4. any of several related plants of the genera Cheiranthus and Erysimum.

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wallflower British  

/ ˈwɔːlˌflaʊə /

noun

1. Also called: gillyflower.  a plant, Cheiranthus cheiri, of S Europe, grown for its clusters of yellow, orange, brown, red, or purple fragrant flowers and naturalized on old walls, cliffs, etc: family Brassicaceae (crucifers)

2. any of numerous other crucifers of the genera Cheiranthus and Erysimum, having orange or yellow flowers

3. informal a person who stays on the fringes of a dance or party on account of lacking a partner or being shy

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Etymology

Origin of wallflower

First recorded in 1570–80; wall + flower

Explanation

A wallflower is someone who's so shy that they typically stand or sit alone rather than engage with a larger group. If you tend to be introverted and a bit awkward at parties, you might describe yourself as a wallflower. A botanist would tell you that wallflowers are actual flowers; a relative of the cabbage, wallflowers are native to southern Europe and grow tiny blossoms of various colors. Figurative wallflowers are even more varied, including introverts, people with social anxiety, and extremely reserved folks. The stereotypical wallflower stands against the wall at a party, too shy to ask someone to dance. This meaning dates back to at least 1820.

Example Sentences

Vanderbilt, the former SEC wallflower, just posted the first 10-win season in its history.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025

In 2019 Coughlan was cast as wallflower Penelope Featherington, the youngest daughter of a newly rich family during London's Regency era, in Bridgerton.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2024

Until now, her character, Penelope Featherington, has been content to be a wallflower in the ballrooms of Regency London, allowing her to observe and secretly write a society scandal sheet under the pseudonym Lady Whistledown.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2024

Parsnips are always, always overlooked, but this recipe will change hearts and minds about the wallflower of root vegetables.

From Salon • Nov. 6, 2022

They worried that I wouldn’t attract boys, that I would be a wallflower, like Aunt Zo.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Related Words

• observer