salvia

noun

sal·​via ˈsal-vē-ə How to pronounce salvia (audio)
: any of a large and widely distributed genus (Salvia) of herbs and shrubs of the mint family having a 2-lipped open calyx and two anthers
especially : one (S. splendens) with scarlet flowers

Examples of salvia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Salvia discolor: Rare in cultivation, this unusual Peruvian salvia is popular with hummingbirds and is a drought-tolerant choice for the garden. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 30 Sep. 2024 The temperature was in the 90s in West Hills, but that didn’t deter an astonishing number of monarch butterflies, hummingbirds and bees from feeding on the California-friendly plants — sages, salvias and flowering milkweed — in Eric Augusztiny’s front yard. Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2024 There are also a few types of annuals that fall into this group including snapdragon, angelonia, lantana, annual salvias, and verbena. Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 19 Aug. 2023 Amistad salvia This purple annual salvia grows 3 to 4 feet high, which is tall enough to be planted in the ground and used extensively by hummingbirds. Joanne Kempinger Demski, Journal Sentinel, 14 July 2023 See all Example Sentences for salvia 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'salvia.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, sage — more at sage

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of salvia was in 1601

Dictionary Entries Near salvia

Cite this Entry

“Salvia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salvia. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

salvia

noun
sal·​via ˈsal-vē-ə How to pronounce salvia (audio)
1
capitalized : a genus of widely distributed herbs or shrubs of the mint family (Labiatae) including the sage (S. officinalis)
2
: any herb or shrub of the genus Salvia

More from Merriam-Webster on salvia

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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