plumbago

noun

plum·​ba·​go ˌpləm-ˈbā-(ˌ)gō How to pronounce plumbago (audio)
plural plumbagos
1
[New Latin, from Latin] : any of a genus (Plumbago of the family Plumbaginaceae, the plumbago family) of chiefly tropical herbs and shrubs with alternate leaves and spikes of showy flowers
2

Examples of plumbago in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Cape plumbago develops clusters of true blue, pink, or white phlox-like flowers on new growth from summer to fall. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 May 2026 Ferns, giant lavender, plumbago, rosemary, broom, and laurels grow on the mountain at its center. Marzio Mian, The Dial, 12 June 2025 In addition to being deer-resistant, plumbago is tough as nails, drought tolerant, and fast-growing, though not invasive. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Mar. 2025 An interior courtyard blooms with chin-high hydrangeas and Chinese plumbago, and there are cases of Chateau Clarisse, a winery in Bordeaux run by the owners of the hotel, stacked in the creamy Italian marble bar. Jo Rodgers, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2024 My other plumbago in a separate pot does not have them. Neil Sperry, San Antonio Express-News, 27 May 2022

Word History

Etymology

Latin plumbagin-, plumbago galena, from plumbum

First Known Use

1732, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of plumbago was in 1732

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plumbago.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plumbago. Accessed 14 May. 2026.

Medical Definition

plumbago

noun
plum·​ba·​go ˌpləm-ˈbā-(ˌ)gō How to pronounce plumbago (audio)
plural plumbagos

More from Merriam-Webster on plumbago

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster