clematis

noun

cle·​ma·​tis ˈkle-mə-təs  kli-ˈma-təs 

-ˈmā-,

-ˈmä-

: any of a genus (Clematis) of vines or herbs of the buttercup family often having three leaflets on each leaf and usually white, red, pink, or purple flowers

Examples of clematis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Landscapers love every blooming clematis climbing a trellis or mailbox except an Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora). —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 June 2025

Evoking orchids, as well as summer’s bountiful lavender and clematis arrivals, the hue grants a rare opportunity for dabbling in many competing color trends at once through this shoe purchase. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 25 June 2025

Wisteria climbs by sending out tendrils — slender curling stems — that curl around a support, the way a clematis vine does. —Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2025

Go for colorful, cascading flowers like wisteria or clematis. —Eleni N. Gage, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, genus name, going back to Latin clēmatid-, clēmatis "any of several vines, as clematis and convolvulus," borrowed from Greek klēmatid-, klēmatís "vine branch used as firewood, (in plural) brushwood, flowering vine (as convolvulus and clematis)," from klēmat-, klêma "cut vine branch, branch on a growing plant, (in plural) shoots" (from klē-, probably variant stem of kláō, klân "to break off, break in two or in pieces" + -mat-, -ma, resultative noun suffix) + -id-, -is, diminutive suffix — more at clastic

Note: The genus was introduced by linnaeus in Species Plantarum (1753), vol. 1, p. 543.

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clematis

• fremitus
• oedematous

Kids Definition

clematis

noun

clem·​a·​tis

ˈklem-ət-əs,

kli-ˈmat-əs

: a vine or herb related to the buttercups that has leaves with three leaflets and is widely grown for its showy usually white, red, pink, or purple flowers