loosestrife

noun

loose·​strife ˈlü(s)-ˌstrīf 

1

: any of a genus (Lysimachia) of plants of the primrose family with leafy stems and usually yellow or white flowers

2

: any of a genus (Lythrum, family Lythraceae, the loosestrife family) of herbs having entire leaves and including some with showy spikes of purple flowers

especially : purple loosestrife

Examples of loosestrife in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That was not the case in my pollinator garden, where the gooseneck loosestrife ran roughshod over a patch of hostas and had to be removed. —Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Apr. 2025

So, before kudzu, loosestrife and spurge take over your blank patches, plant plants. —Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 28 Sep. 2023

Purple loosestrife is quickly recognizable, thanks to its upright purple flower spikes that bloom from midsummer through fall. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Sep. 2022

Word History

Etymology

intended as translation of Greek lysimacheios loosestrife (as if from lysis act of loosing + machesthai to fight) — more at lysis

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing loosestrife

• purple loosestrife

Rhymes for loosestrife

• afterlife
• pocketknife
• alewife
• birdlife
• folklife
• housewife
• jackknife
• midlife
• midwife
• nightlife
• penknife
• wildlife

Kids Definition

loosestrife

noun

loose·​strife ˈlü(s)-ˌstrīf 

1

: any of a genus of herbs that are related to the primroses and have leafy stems and yellow or white flowers

2

: any of a genus of herbs including some with showy spikes of purple flowers