horticulturist

noun

hor·​ti·​cul·​tur·​ist ˌhȯr-tə-ˈkəl-chə-rist How to pronounce horticulturist (audio)
variants or less commonly horticulturalist
plural horticulturists also horticulturalists
: a person whose work involves growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants
As the city horticulturist for the past six years, Burton has made the parks and city areas of O'Fallon bloom.Lynn Venhaus
The finest hot chili pepper in Peter's test garden is 'Riot', which does double duty as an ornamental and in salads; it is a graduate of horticulturist Jim Baggett's breeding program at Oregon State University.Jim McCausland
I prefer buying plants from a nursery to buying at a garden center, and both are vastly preferable to the garden section of a discount store. Plant quality and accuracy of labeling are usually best at a nursery, where the staff is most likely to include professional horticulturists.Jeff Whitehead
De Witt Clinton was a man of parts—a patron of schools, charities, and the arts, a founder of the New York Historical Society, an amateur scientist and horticulturalist.James MacGregor Burns

Examples of horticulturist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web That’s why trees really need their canopies during hot summer temperatures, said James Downer, a plant pathologist and horticulturist who teaches arboriculture at Cal Poly Pomona and just retired from the Ventura County UC Cooperative Extension office. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2023 Luther Gage, an early San Diego settler and horticulturist, brought ranunculus seeds to North County in the 1920s and began growing them in his fields next to Frank Frazee’s vegetable farm in South Oceanside. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2024 McClatchy-Tribune News Service Maureen Gilmer is an author, horticulturist and landscape designer. Maureen Gilmer, Charlotte Observer, 1 Feb. 2024 But horticulturists say there’s no real evidence to support this. Lauren David, Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2024 Written for the home gardener and the more seasoned horticulturist alike, this book covers crop selection, pollination, roguing, and the processes of harvesting and storing seeds, honoring traditions, and encouraging a joy for understanding of the art and science of seed saving. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 28 Dec. 2023 But these new varieties bloom at least eight months a year, said Sunset horticulturist Janet Sluis. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2023 Learn about the cemetery’s urban forestry while checking out beautiful fall colors and garden landscapes, led by a horticulturist. Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2023 Greenery’s 21 plant keepers, called horticulturists, typically make their rounds during working hours. Steven Kurutz, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'horticulturist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of horticulturist was in 1799

Dictionary Entries Near horticulturist

Cite this Entry

“Horticulturist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horticulturist. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

horticulturist

noun
hor·​ti·​cul·​tur·​ist
ˌhȯrt-ə-ˈkəlch(-ə)-rəst
variants also horticulturalist
-ˈkəlch(-ə)-rə-list
: a person who specializes in horticulture
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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