peony

noun

pe·​o·​ny ˈpē-ə-nē How to pronounce peony (audio)
plural peonies
1
: any of a genus (Paeonia of the family Paeoniaceae) of chiefly Eurasian plants with large often double flowers
2
: the flower of a peony

Examples of peony 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.
For example, ants swarm all over peony buds collecting the nectar. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025 Use these step-by-step instructions to divide garden peonies correctly so each part will grow into a strong new plant to add to your landscape or to share with other gardeners. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Sep. 2025 In fact, pink appears to be the color of the season—from peach to peony, dresses are coming up rosy. Rosie Jarman, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2025 The Kansas City florist also pointed out that while most of the blooms featured are available year-round, the peonies were a rare seasonal touch. Bryan West, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for peony

Word History

Etymology

Middle English piony, from Anglo-French peonie, pioiné, from Latin paeonia, from Greek paiōnia, from Paiōn Paeon, physician of the gods

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of peony was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Peony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peony. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

peony

noun
pe·​o·​ny ˈpē-ə-nē How to pronounce peony (audio)
plural peonies
: any of a genus of plants that are widely grown for their large red, pink, or white flowers

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