peony

noun

pe·​o·​ny ˈpē-ə-nē 

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

Our picks include The Flamingo Estate Green Goddess candle, with notes of fresh mint, pea tendrils, rosemary and basil, as well as the Linnea Petals candle, with notes of peony, green stem and ambergris. —Claire Peltier, ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026

Embrace what's to come by decorating your nails with flowers from tulips and peonies to daisies. —Christina Perrier, InStyle, 21 Feb. 2026

Remove the leaves from the base of your peony tulips, making sure no greenery touches the water in your vase to reduce mold growth. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2026

Some perennials are very long-lived, such as the peony, daylily, and false indigo, while others are relatively short-lived, such as the lupine, columbine, and delphinium. —David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026

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

Phrases Containing peony

• tree peony

Kids Definition

peony

noun

pe·​o·​ny ˈpē-ə-nē 

plural peonies

: any of a genus of plants that are widely grown for their large red, pink, or white flowers