Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

xenia

noun xe·nia \ ˈzē-nē-ə , -nyə \

Definition of xenia

: the effect of genes introduced by pollen especially on endosperm and embryo development

Origin and Etymology of xenia

New Latin, from Greek, hospitality, from xenos host

Xenia

geographical name Xe·nia \ ˈzē-nyə , -nē-ə \

Definition of Xenia

city in southwest central Ohio east-southeast of Dayton population 25,719

Learn More about xenia

  1. Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about xenia

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up xenia? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

festinate

play

to hasten

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. exculpatory 'tending or serving to exculpate'

  2. ideologue 'an often blindly partisan advocate or adherent of a particular ideology'

  3. socialism 'a way of organizing a society in which major industries are owned and controlled by the government'

  4. uphold 'to let stand'

  5. due process 'a course of formal proceedings (as judicial proceedings)'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

xenia

Test Your Vocabulary

Test Your Emoji Exceptionalism

  • test-your-emoji-exceptionalism-written-with-a-lot-of-emoji
  • What is this emoji intended to represent: 🤳
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games