sweet pea

noun

1

: a widely cultivated Italian legume (Lathyrus odoratus) having slender usually climbing stems, ovate leaves, and large fragrant flowers

2

: the flower of a sweet pea

Examples of sweet pea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Matthew Hunt gardens in the Talega enclave within the city of San Clemente, and praises his purple Polygala x dalmaisiana, commonly known as sweet pea shrub. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025

Or try the takikomi gohan — a hot stone pot of crispy rice flecked with roasted mushrooms, edamame and sweet pea shoots and sauced with black garlic oil and a glossy egg yolk. —Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025

Succession seed-sowing works well for quick-growing plants like zinnias, morning glories, marigolds, sweet peas, cosmos, and nasturtiums. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2025

The original scent structure combined grapefruit with notes of lily and sweet pea, and the 2025 re-creation appears to have followed suit, blending pink grapefruit with a bouquet of florals. —Marianne Mychaskiw, Allure, 1 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1732, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sweet pea

• agree
• allee
• banshee
• beastly
• bibi
• bowsprit
• carefree
• cerci
• chablis
• cowpea
• crappie
• crappy

Kids Definition

sweet pea

noun

1

: a widely grown Italian herb of the legume family with slender climbing stems and large fragrant flowers

2

: the flower of a sweet pea