Illustration of poinsettia
poinsettia
noun
poin·set·tia
pȯin-ˈse-tē-ə 
nonstandard pȯint-,
nonstandard
-ˈse-tə
: any of several spurges (genus Euphorbia) with flower clusters subtended by showy involucral bracts
especially
: a showy Mexican and Central American plant (E. pulcherrima) with tapering usually scarlet bracts that suggest petals and surround small yellow flowers
Examples of poinsettia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Give all poinsettias a spring trimming; repot new ones or add them to the landscape.
39.
—
Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025
In the mid-1960s, Edwin Frazee moved his ranunculus and gladiolus to the current location on land owned by the Ecke Family, where poinsettias had been growing.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
Plan to water your outdoor poinsettia daily during hot, dry conditions.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Dec. 2024
The poinsettia may have gotten its bad reputation for being considered poisonous to humans in 1919, according to Harvard Health Publishing, when a child of an army officer was said to have died after consuming a portion of a poinsettia plant.
—Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for poinsettia
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.
Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2025
In the mid-1960s, Edwin Frazee moved his ranunculus and gladiolus to the current location on land owned by the Ecke Family, where poinsettias had been growing.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
Plan to water your outdoor poinsettia daily during hot, dry conditions.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Dec. 2024
The poinsettia may have gotten its bad reputation for being considered poisonous to humans in 1919, according to Harvard Health Publishing, when a child of an army officer was said to have died after consuming a portion of a poinsettia plant.
—Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for poinsettia
Cite this Entry
“Poinsettia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poinsettia. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
poinsettia
noun
poin·set·tia
pȯin-ˈset-ē-ə
-ˈset-ə
-ˈset-ə
: a showy Mexican and Central American plant with large scarlet bracts that grow like petals about its small yellow flowers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share