peony

noun

pe·​o·​ny ˈpē-ə-nē How to pronounce peony (audio)
plural peonies
1
: any of a genus (Paeonia of the family Paeoniaceae) of chiefly Eurasian plants with large often double flowers
2
: the flower of a peony

Examples of peony in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Light Plant 'Lemon Chiffon' peony in full sun to part shade. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2024 Come spring, the grounds burst with color, namely the 200-plus cherry blossom trees that bloom in April, and the lilacs, bluebells, and peonies springing to life throughout May. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2024 The temples' wooden halls and pagodas feature intricate carvings with Chinese zodiac animals, peonies, and chrysanthemums. Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024 There are species peonies, too, and other treasures. Margaret Roach, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2024 It's located in plant hardiness zone 8, which is ideal for roses, peonies, and ranunculus. Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2024 As performances concluded, guests were ushered to the reception area, where they were greeted by white peonies and cherry blossoms adorning tabletops. Maia Torres, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2024 The indoor peony displays exhibit dozens of exquisite varieties, and there are plenty of cut and potted blooms to take home. Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Sweeney's bouquets included roses (of course), peonies, snapdragons, and more. Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'peony.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English piony, from Anglo-French peonie, pioiné, from Latin paeonia, from Greek paiōnia, from Paiōn Paeon, physician of the gods

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of peony was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near peony

Cite this Entry

“Peony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peony. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

peony

noun
pe·​o·​ny ˈpē-ə-nē How to pronounce peony (audio)
plural peonies
: any of a genus of plants that are widely grown for their large red, pink, or white flowers

More from Merriam-Webster on peony

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