gladiolus

noun

glad·​i·​o·​lus ˌgla-dē-ˈō-ləs 

plural gladioli ˌgla-dē-ˈō-(ˌ)lē  -ˌlī 

1

or plural gladiolus also gladioluses : any of a genus (Gladiolus) of chiefly African perennial plants of the iris family with erect sword-shaped leaves and spikes of brilliantly colored irregular flowers arising from corms

2

: the large middle portion of the sternum

Illustration of gladiolus

• gladiolus 1

Examples of gladiolus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Keeping gladiolus and other bulbs in bulb cages or a DIY cage made of chicken wire can add extra rodent protection and make sure nothing nibbles on your plants. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2025

Look for creamy white blooming and fragrant marsh Afrikaner (Gladiolus tristis), hot pink Byzantine gladiolus (Gladiolus byzantinus), pearl pink and magenta painted lady gladiolus (Gladiolus carneus) to start. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2025

The spelling bee has grown dramatically over 100 years For Frank, the word was a type of flower, gladiolus. —Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025

Some plants do not perform well with beans, including onions, garlic, gladiolus, and fennel. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, gladiolus, from diminutive of gladius

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gladiolus

• malleolus
• nucleolus
• bolus
• colas
• polis
• solus
• embolus

Kids Definition

gladiolus

noun

glad·​i·​o·​lus ˌglad-ē-ˈō-ləs 

plural gladioli -ˈō-(ˌ)lē 

-ˈō-ˌlī

or gladiolus also gladioluses

: any of a genus of chiefly African plants related to the irises and having erect sword-shaped leaves and stalks of brilliantly colored flowers

Etymology

from Latin gladiolus, literally, "little sword," from gladius "sword" — related to gladiator

Medical Definition

gladiolus

noun

glad·​i·​o·​lus ˌglad-ē-ˈō-ləs 

plural gladioli -(ˌ)lē  -ˌlī 

: the large middle portion of the sternum lying between the upper manubrium and the lower xiphoid process

called also mesosternum