honeysuckle

noun

hon·​ey·​suck·​le ˈhə-nē-ˌsə-kəl How to pronounce honeysuckle (audio)
: any of a genus (Lonicera of the family Caprifoliaceae, the honeysuckle family) of shrubs with opposite leaves and fragrant tubular flowers rich in nectar
broadly : any of various plants (such as a columbine or azalea) with tubular flowers rich in nectar

Illustration of honeysuckle

Illustration of honeysuckle

Examples of honeysuckle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Aromas of clover honey, Champagne mango, pineapple, and crème brûlée give way to palate full of kumquat, prickly pear, marzipan, flint and honeysuckle. Emily Cappiello, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025 Each flower also features a striking scent of citrus and honeysuckle, guaranteed to grace both your home and garden with its sweet fragrance. Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Apr. 2025 The summit at Snoqualmie has already received more than 20 inches of snow in the past week. 01:45 PM EDT New graphic shows spread of spring flowers sweeping across US On this first day of spring, lilacs and honeysuckles are beginning to show their leaves in portions of SE and SW Pennsylvania. Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025 In addition to anti-inflammatory honeysuckle, it’s infused with antioxidant-rich ginseng and clarifying Solomon’s Seal powder (a plant traditionally used in herbal medicine. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 3 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for honeysuckle

Word History

Etymology

Middle English honysoukel clover, alteration of honysouke, from Old English hunisūce, from hunig honey + sūcan to suck

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of honeysuckle was in 1548

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Honeysuckle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honeysuckle. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

honeysuckle

noun
hon·​ey·​suck·​le -ˌsək-əl How to pronounce honeysuckle (audio)
: any of a genus of shrubs having fragrant tube-shaped flowers rich in nectar

More from Merriam-Webster on honeysuckle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!