bird-of-paradise

1 of 2

noun

bird-of-par·​a·​dise ˈbərd-əv-ˈper-ə-ˌdīs 

-ˌdīz, 

- ˈpa-rə-

: an ornamental plant (Strelitzia reginae of the family Strelitziaceae) native to southern Africa that has scapes terminating in a horizontal bract from which emerges an upright flower having three orange or yellow sepals and three irregular blue petals

bird of paradise

2 of 2

noun phrase

: any of numerous brilliantly colored plumed oscine birds (family Paradisaeidae) chiefly of New Guinea and neighboring islands

Examples of bird-of-paradise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Floor-to-ceiling windows fill the space with light, while a glass door leads to a private garden lush with bird-of-paradise plants and ferns—a rare pocket of calm in the city. — Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 29 May 2026

In addition to tropical varieties of all kinds (bromeliads, hibiscus, bananas, bird-of-paradise), Leu is home to one of the state’s largest formal rose gardens, a tropical steam garden (similar to a rainforest), a collection of fruit trees, a camellia collection, and so much more. — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026

Noun phrase

The outdoor shower was lined by a wall of luxuriant birds of paradise plants. — Sandra Guzmán, USA Today, 18 June 2026

The wide variety of plants include birds of paradise, roses and herbs. — Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1874, in the meaning defined above

Noun Phrase

1569, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bird-of-paradise

• advice
• allspice
• concise
• device
• entice
• excise
• fordyce
• precise
• suffice
• dice
• feis
• gneiss

Kids Definition

bird-of-paradise

1 of 2 noun

: a plant from southern Africa that has a colorful flower head resembling the head of a bird with a crest

bird of paradise

2 of 2

: any of numerous brilliantly colored birds of the New Guinea area that often have large graceful tail feathers and are related to the crows