bougainvillea
noun
bou·gain·vil·lea
ˌbü-gən-ˈvil-yə 
ˌbō-,
ˌbu̇-,
-ˈvē-ə
variants
or less commonly bougainvillaea
: any of a genus (Bougainvillaea) of the four-o'clock family of ornamental tropical American woody vines and shrubs with brilliant purple or red floral bracts
Examples of bougainvillea in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Perched high above street level and privately shielded from view behind giant bougainvillea plants and a big driveway gate, the single-story Spanish hacienda was built in 1950 but recently underwent a renovation.
—
James McClain, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2023
It was made from the carretto and bougainvillea print from a 2014 collection inspired by Taormina on a sunny day, with the bottom of the dress including a motif of the iconic Sicilian carretto wheel.
—Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2023
The artificial bougainvillea flowers and leaves are made from synthetic fabric intended only for indoor use.
—Lee Alisha Williams, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2023
Here, the land is bursting with bright bougainvillea and dotted with Cypress trees.
—Tom Weijand, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2023
This coastal enclave, where rooms and suites are housed in white cottages set among olive trees and pink bougainvillea and an open-plan restaurant, bar and lounge with outdoor terrace commands views over the Aegean Sea, is positioned on the lush hillside overlooking Türkbükü Bay.
—Lauren Jade Hill, Forbes, 26 May 2022
Curl up in a hammock on your casita's terrace and take in the sights and sounds of the jungle canopy, from brightly colored bougainvillea and heliconia flowers to toucans and hummingbirds.
—House Beautiful, 16 June 2023
Half of the suit is a pretty bougainvillea color, while the other half is a bright mint hue.
—Phoebe Sklansky, Peoplemag, 16 June 2023
Always say yes to bougainvillea and fire pits!
—Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 3 July 2022
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James McClain, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2023
It was made from the carretto and bougainvillea print from a 2014 collection inspired by Taormina on a sunny day, with the bottom of the dress including a motif of the iconic Sicilian carretto wheel.
—Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2023
The artificial bougainvillea flowers and leaves are made from synthetic fabric intended only for indoor use.
—Lee Alisha Williams, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2023
Here, the land is bursting with bright bougainvillea and dotted with Cypress trees.
—Tom Weijand, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2023
This coastal enclave, where rooms and suites are housed in white cottages set among olive trees and pink bougainvillea and an open-plan restaurant, bar and lounge with outdoor terrace commands views over the Aegean Sea, is positioned on the lush hillside overlooking Türkbükü Bay.
—Lauren Jade Hill, Forbes, 26 May 2022
Curl up in a hammock on your casita's terrace and take in the sights and sounds of the jungle canopy, from brightly colored bougainvillea and heliconia flowers to toucans and hummingbirds.
—House Beautiful, 16 June 2023
Half of the suit is a pretty bougainvillea color, while the other half is a bright mint hue.
—Phoebe Sklansky, Peoplemag, 16 June 2023
Always say yes to bougainvillea and fire pits!
—Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 3 July 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bougainvillea.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Louis Antoine de Bougainville
First Known Use
1849, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Bougainvillea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bougainvillea. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on bougainvillea
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bougainvillea
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