bougainvillea

noun

bou·​gain·​vil·​lea ˌbü-gən-ˈvil-yə How to pronounce bougainvillea (audio)
ˌbō-
ˌbu̇-
-ˈvē-ə How to pronounce bougainvillea (audio)
variants or less commonly bougainvillaea
: any of a genus (Bougainvillaea) of the four-o'clock family of ornamental tropical American woody vines and shrubs with brilliant purple or red floral bracts

Examples of bougainvillea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Nearby, a small, colorful port named after her sister, Elizabeth, remains flanked by frangipani, bougainvillea, and tamarind trees. Elena Clavarino, Air Mail, 14 Feb. 2026 Monster bamboo, bougainvillea, and banana plants crashed in from the roadside; a tin roof sagged under the weight of a gaggle of marabou storks; baboons plundered trash cans at a highway intersection. Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026 Sunlight burns, bougainvillea flames. Chen Yuhong, The Dial, 3 Feb. 2026 Tropical greenery and flora enshroud each walkway, and walls are adorned in bougainvillea arches. Molly Barstein, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bougainvillea

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Louis Antoine de Bougainville

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bougainvillea was in 1849

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Cite this Entry

“Bougainvillea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bougainvillea. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.

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