horticulture
noun
Did you know?
Hortus is Latin for "garden", and the first gardens were planted about 10,000 years ago in what is often called the Fertile Crescent—the crescent-shaped area stretching from Israel north through Syria and down Iraq's two great rivers to the Persian Gulf. Probably more fertile in previous centuries than it is today, it was the original home of such food plants as wheat, barley, peas, and lentils or their ancient ancestors (not to mention the ancestors of cows, pigs, sheep, and goats as well). Many horticulturists today work as researchers or plant breeders or tend orchards and greenhouses—but most American households contain at least one amateur horticulturist.
Examples of horticulture in a Sentence
Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 11 Mar. 2026
Flower lovers of all skill levels can enter the show with divisions ranging from horticulture and floral design to youth and photography.
—Martina Schimitschek, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
Tim Johnson is senior director of horticulture at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
Wayne Hobbs is an extension agent in environmental horticulture for Clay County.
—Wayne Hobbs, Florida Times-Union, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for horticulture
Cite this Entry
“Horticulture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horticulture. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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horticulture
noun
