wallflower

noun

wall·​flow·​er ˈwȯl-ˌflau̇(-ə)r 

1

: any of several Old World perennial herbs (genus Erysimum synonym Cheiranthus) of the mustard family

especially : a hardy erect herb (E. cheiri synonym C. cheiri) widely cultivated for its showy fragrant flowers

2

a

: a person who from shyness or unpopularity remains on the sidelines of a social activity (such as a dance)

b

: a shy or reserved person

Illustration of wallflower

• wallflower 1a

Synonyms of wallflower

• introvert
• mouse

Examples of wallflower in a Sentence

there were too many wallflowers at the party, so things never really got lively

Recent Examples on the Web

Of course, as college football fans know, the man has never exactly been what anyone would call a wallflower. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026

There are also plenty of familiar faces in the Offers page, including buy three, get one free promo, 75% off select items, and five for $28 wallflowers fragrance refills. — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 2 July 2026

And O’Flynn is its breakout star, achieving fan-favorite status not by regurgitating girls-in-horror tropes but by bringing Royal Academy gravitas to a character who might have initially read like a wallflower. — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 29 June 2026

Its high jewelry has never been for wallflowers, and that notion is inherent to one of the crowning statement pieces, the Fortune necklace. — Jill Newman, Robb Report, 18 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for wallflower

• airpower
• brainpower
• devour
• empower
• firepower
• horsepower
• manpower
• mayflower
• safflower
• sunflower
• watchtower
• wildflower

Kids Definition

wallflower

noun

wall·​flow·​er ˈwȯl-ˌflau̇(-ə)r 

: a person who from shyness or unpopularity remains alone (as at a dance)