chrysanthemum

noun

chry·​san·​the·​mum kri-ˈsan(t)-thə-məm 

 also  -ˈzan(t)-

1

: any of various composite plants (genus Chrysanthemum) including weeds, ornamentals grown for their brightly colored often double flower heads, and others important as sources of medicinals and insecticides

2

: a flower head of an ornamental chrysanthemum

Illustration of chrysanthemum

• chrysanthemum 2

Examples of chrysanthemum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While chrysanthemums are a quintessential fall flower, opting for different, but equally eye-catching plants will make your home stand out from everyone else. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025

The one-Michelin-star kitchen highlights Cantonese dishes, from Xing grouper steamed in lotus leaves to a too-pretty-to-eat tofu chrysanthemum flower. —AFAR Media, 2 Sep. 2025

So, interspersed among my roses are foxgloves, delphiniums, daisies, little chrysanthemums, sweet alyssum, nemesia, penstemon, scabiosa, cosmos and nepeta. —Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2025

Their pom-pom heads resemble chrysanthemums, which are sunflower cousins. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 2 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, genus name, going back to Latin chrȳsanthemon, chrȳsanthemum "a yellow-flowered composite plant," borrowed from Greek chrȳsánthemon "any of various plants with bright yellow flowers," from chrȳsós "gold" + ánthemon "blossom, flower" — more at chryso-, anthemion

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

chrysanthemum

noun

chry·​san·​the·​mum kris-ˈan(t)-thə-məm 

1

: any of a genus of plants that are related to the daisies and include weeds, ornamental plants grown for their brightly colored often double flower heads, and others important as sources of substances used in medicine and as insecticides

2

: a flower head of an ornamental chrysanthemum