wallflower

play

noun wall·flow·er \ ˈwȯl-ˌflau̇(-ə)r \

Updated on: 26 Jul 2017

Definition of wallflower

1 a :any of several Old World perennial herbs (genus Cheiranthus) of the mustard family; especially :a hardy erect herb (C. cheiri) widely cultivated for its showy fragrant flowers

b :any of a related genus (Erysimum) of herbs with showy 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

See wallflower defined for English-language learners

See wallflower defined for kids

Examples of wallflower in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of wallflower from the Web

Blanche is the onetime wallflower who became a movie star, until a jealous and drunk Jane allegedly hit her while driving, paralyzing Blanche from the waist down.

— mike fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "'What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?' turns catfighting camp up to 11," 17 Aug. 2017
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE: Warhol, Nico, a naked handstand, a crucifix: The Broad kicks off 'Happenings' with songs and shocks No wallflowers here: Sparks fly when art mingles on the walls of 'Flaming June VII'

— leah ollman, latimes.com, "The Underdog on Post-it notes and other nostalgic bits, revived with a twist," 29 June 2017
FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME There were no wallflowers at New York's Barclays Center on Tuesday night (June 6) as The Weeknd set the party off for his two-day stint in Brooklyn for his global Starboy: Legend of the Fall tour.

— adelle platon, Billboard, "The Weeknd Turns Into a Party Monster for Starboy: Legend of the Fall Tour Stop in Brooklyn," 7 June 2017
FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME There were no wallflowers at New York's Barclays Center on Tuesday night (June 6) as The Weeknd set the party off for his two-day stint in Brooklyn for his global Starboy: Legend of the Fall tour.

— adelle platon, Billboard, "The Weeknd Turns Into a Party Monster for Starboy: Legend of the Fall Tour Stop in Brooklyn," 7 June 2017
Plus, fan-favorite Cucumber Melon is also coming back in home fragrance products like candles and wallflowers, as well as hand cream and hand soaps.

— jessica mattern, Country Living, "Bath and Body Works Is Bringing Back More of Your Favorite '90s Scents," 2 June 2017
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.

— emily ables, Seventeen, "17 Books Every Girl Should Read Before She's 17," 8 May 2017
Willowy and seductive, with a deep voice and a contagious smile, Ms. Dvorovenko is no wallflower.

— gia kourlas, New York Times, "I Don’t Miss ‘Swan Lake’: A Ballerina’s Role on ‘The Americans’," 26 Apr. 2017
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky The coming-of-age novel deals directly with a lot of the mental health issues brought up in 13 Reasons, including suicide.

— kelly lawler, USA TODAY, "Read these YA books after watching '13 Reasons Why'," 26 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wallflower.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of wallflower

First Known Use of wallflower

1577

wallflower Synonyms

Synonyms

shrinking violet, introvert

Antonyms

extrovert (also extravert)

Related Words

mouse; cold fish, iceberg, icicle

Financial Definition of WALLFLOWER

wallflower

noun

What It Is

Wallflower is slang for a stock that analysts and investors tend to neglect.

How It Works

Usually used to describe individuals who are relegated to the sidelines in social events, in investing, wallflowers are stocks that investors and analysts tend to ignore. Also called orphan stocks, wallflowers do not typically display outstanding market performance, but sometimes the reason for a stock being classified as a wallflower may not be clear.

Why It Matters

Value investors sometimes hunt specifically for wallflowers. Because their stock price hasn't been inflated by investor demand, wallflowers tend to have low P/E ratios, which many investors believe can lead to solid long-term returns.

Source: Investing Answers

WALLFLOWER Defined for English Language Learners

wallflower

play

noun

Definition of wallflower for English Language Learners

: a person who is shy or unpopular and who stands or sits apart from other people at a dance or party
: a garden plant grown for its bright, pleasant-smelling flowers