petunia

noun

pe·​tu·​nia pi-ˈtün-yə 

-ˈtyün-

: any of a genus (Petunia) of tropical South American herbs of the nightshade family that are commonly grown as annuals for their fragrant, colorful, trumpet-shaped flowers

Illustration of petunia

Examples of petunia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Million Bells Also known as calibrachoa, this cousin of petunias sports smaller flowers that bloom continuously, and don’t require fervent dead-heading to do so. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 21 June 2025

Yes, the same creature known to bolt through a screen door or dig up a bed of petunias with its nose may sit still on occasion, playing doctor in a white lab coat, or pose chin-strapped to a birthday hat, candles dancing in the background. —Billy Collins, New Yorker, 16 June 2025

Keep petunias blooming all summer long with this simple pruning technique. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 June 2025

However, because of its small flowers, Calibrachoa was long neglected by plant breeders in favor of the petunia with its larger blooms. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 24 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from obsolete French petun tobacco, from Tupi petɨ́ma

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for petunia

• dyspareunia

Kids Definition

petunia

noun

pe·​tu·​nia pi-ˈt(y)ün-yə 

: any of a genus of tropical South American herbs of the nightshade family widely grown for their showy funnel-shaped flowers