geranium

noun

ge·​ra·​ni·​um jə-ˈrā-nē-əm  -nyəm 

1

: any of a widely distributed genus (Geranium of the family Geraniaceae, the geranium family) of plants having regular usually white, pink, or purple flowers with elongated styles and glands that alternate with the petals

called also cranesbill

2

: pelargonium

3

: a vivid or strong red

Examples of geranium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition, studies have shown coffee grounds inhibit seed-germination in certain plants, which can provide limited weed suppression, but also negatively impact some desirable plants, such as geraniums, clovers, and mustards. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 June 2025

Yellowing leaves on geraniums often mean something's wrong. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2025

Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade Soil Type: Average to poor, well-draining Soil pH: 6 to 6.5 Perennial geraniums, also known as cranesbill geranium due to the shape of the flowers, are a type of hardy groundcover that spreads rapidly. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 20 June 2025

As the fragrance seeps into my pores, heart notes of magnolia leaf and geranium develop. —Essence, 16 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, geranium, from Greek geranion, from diminutive of geranos crane — more at crane

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing geranium

• rose geranium
• wild geranium

Rhymes for geranium

• germanium
• titanium
• uranium
• cranium
• transuranium

Kids Definition

geranium

noun

ge·​ra·​ni·​um jə-ˈrā-nē-əm 

1

: any of a genus of herbs with usually deeply cut leaves and typically white, pink, or purple flowers in which glands alternate with the petals

2

: any of a genus of herbs native to southern Africa with showy flowers of usually red, pink, or white

Etymology

from Latin geranium "geranium," from Greek geranion, literally, "little crane," from geranos "crane"

Word Origin

Many of the plants in the geranium family have long, thin, pointed seedpods or fruits that look like the bills of birds. The ancient Greeks noticed this resemblance. They named the wild geranium geranion, literally meaning "little crane," for the long-legged, long-billed wading bird. English borrowed the Latin form geranium. English also borrowed the idea that the geranium's seedpod looks like a bird's bill. The common English name of the wild geranium is cranesbill.