amaryllis

noun

am·​a·​ryl·​lis ˌa-mə-ˈri-ləs 

1

: an autumn-flowering South African bulbous herb (Amaryllis belladonna of the family Amaryllidaceae, the amaryllis family) that is grown in gardens for its clusters of large, fragrant, usually white or pink flowers which resemble lilies and are borne on long, solid, leafless stems : belladonna lily

2

: any of various usually spring-flowering cultivars of a closely related chiefly South American bulbous herb (genus Hippeastrum) that are widely grown indoors in wintertime for their clusters of large, typically red, pink, salmon, or white, trumpet-shaped flowers which resemble lilies and are borne on long, hollow, leafless stems

Examples of amaryllis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to Tim Pollak, manager of Plant Production at the Chicago Botanic Garden, there are two main reasons an amaryllis bulb won’t flower. —Cori Sears, The Spruce, 14 Jan. 2026

Once the flowers decline the long stalk that held the blooms can be cut down to the top of the amaryllis bulb. —Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026

Sun Sun is important for your amaryllis both before and after blooming. —Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 31 Dec. 2025

Many commenters also wonder whether this hack works well for amaryllis bulbs—another common indoor winter flower. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, genus name, from Latin Amaryllis, name of a shepherdess in pastoral poetry, taken from Greek Amaryllís, a shepherdess in the verse of Theocritus

First Known Use

1754, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for amaryllis

• haemophilus
• bacillus
• utilise
• hilus
• villous
• villus
• willis
• lactobacillus

Kids Definition

amaryllis

noun

am·​a·​ryl·​lis ˌam-ə-ˈril-əs 

: any of various plants of a group related to the lilies

especially : an African herb having a bulb and grown for its cluster of large showy flowers