oleander

noun

ole·​an·​der ˈō-lē-ˌan-dər 

ˌō-lē-ˈan-

: a poisonous evergreen shrub (Nerium oleander) of the dogbane family with clusters of fragrant white to red flowers

Examples of oleander in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Chloe then baked a cake poisoned with oleander leaves killing the owner’s wife and some children. —Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025

The coffeehouse patched with oleander, Captain’s house behind the crooked pine, our restaurant painted blue and white. —Aysegül Savas, Literary Hub, 8 July 2025

The hotel is planted throughout with fresh greenery, including oleander, Nile lilies, pomegranate, and Spanish olive trees. —Marcia Desanctis, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2025

Jacobsen translated four of Van Gogh’s floral paintings into three-dimensional metalwork creations depicting irises, roses, oleanders and imperial fritillaries. —Madeline King, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, alteration of arodandrum, lorandrum, perhaps alteration of Latin rhododendron — more at rhododendron

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for oleander

• coriander
• salamander
• brander
• candor
• dander
• gander
• grander
• hander
• laender
• lander
• pander
• sander

Kids Definition

oleander

noun

ole·​an·​der ˈō-lē-ˌan-dər 

: a poisonous evergreen shrub with showy fragrant usually white, pink, or purple flowers

Medical Definition

oleander

noun

ole·​an·​der ˈō-lē-ˌan-dər, ˌō-lē-ˈ 

: a poisonous evergreen shrub (Nerium oleander) of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) with fragrant white to red flowers that contains oleandrin and was formerly used in medicine