petal

noun

pet·​al ˈpe-tᵊl How to pronounce petal (audio)
: one of the modified often brightly colored leaves of the corolla of a flower see flower illustration
petaled adjective
or petalled
petallike adjective

Examples of petal in a Sentence

flowers with pink and white petals
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Debris such as leaves, flower petals, stems and other parts of plants that fall off decompose into the soil. Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Feb. 2026 Forget rose petals on the stairs. K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026 The frame is ringed by two dozen bottles for collecting water samples, like a flower with 24 petals. New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026 The piano tuner had sent a basket of mums, which were losing petals, shedding everywhere. Allegra Goodman, Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for petal

Word History

Etymology

New Latin petalum, from Greek petalon; akin to Greek petannynai to spread out — more at fathom

First Known Use

1712, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of petal was in 1712

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Petal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petal. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

petal

noun
pet·​al ˈpet-ᵊl How to pronounce petal (audio)
: one of the often brightly colored modified leaves that make up the corolla of a flower
petaled adjective
or petalled
petallike adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on petal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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