chrysanthemum

noun

chry·​san·​the·​mum kri-ˈsan(t)-thə-məm 

 also  -ˈzan(t)-

1

: any of various composite plants (genus Chrysanthemum) including weeds, ornamentals grown for their brightly colored often double flower heads, and others important as sources of medicinals and insecticides

2

: a flower head of an ornamental chrysanthemum

Illustration of chrysanthemum

• chrysanthemum 2

Examples of chrysanthemum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On the morning of Feb. 12, two Boeing 767 FedEx cargo planes were parked outside its facility at MIA, just arriving from Colombia and Ecuador with carnations, chrysanthemums and other flowers cut as recently as Feb. 10. —Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025

Big, bold, colorful flowers were favored for hosting in the 1970s, including chrysanthemums, poppies, daisies, and trumpet flowers. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2025

Chrysanthemum These popular fall flowers, known as hardy chrysanthemums, are cold-hardy perennials. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2025

Materials used for decorating must be natural (not dyed), and include flowers such as roses, chrysanthemums, irises, carnations, and hydrangeas. —Michael Goldstein, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, genus name, going back to Latin chrȳsanthemon, chrȳsanthemum "a yellow-flowered composite plant," borrowed from Greek chrȳsánthemon "any of various plants with bright yellow flowers," from chrȳsós "gold" + ánthemon "blossom, flower" — more at chryso-, anthemion

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

chrysanthemum

noun

chry·​san·​the·​mum kris-ˈan(t)-thə-məm 

1

: any of a genus of plants that are related to the daisies and include weeds, ornamental plants grown for their brightly colored often double flower heads, and others important as sources of substances used in medicine and as insecticides

2

: a flower head of an ornamental chrysanthemum