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

Roberta grabbed a petunia and inserted it in the back of the puppy. —Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026

Sidewalk flower boxes beckon with brilliant pink, purple and red petunias, and vibrant bougainvillea adorns the entryways of storefronts. —Linnea Bailey, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026

All petunia plantings need a moist but not wet soil. —Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026

Even a few containers of petunias on a balcony or a single bee balm plant in a sunny bed can make a difference. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026

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