peony

noun

pe·​o·​ny ˈpē-ə-nē How to pronounce peony (audio)
plural peonies
1
: any of a genus (Paeonia of the family Paeoniaceae) of chiefly Eurasian plants with large often double flowers
2
: the flower of a peony

Examples of peony 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.
For example, peonies, irises, daffodils, and astilbes are best divided in the fall, while perennials like sedum, asters, coneflower, lilies, and black-eyed Susans are best divided in the spring. — The Spruce, 25 Aug. 2026 And peony, while bringing a lightness to an otherwise darker slate of fragrance trends, still feels like a more sophisticated floral than an obvious rose. — Loren Savini, Allure, 22 Aug. 2026 Typically, a balanced fertilizer is best for peonies or a fertilizer that’s specifically formulated to help blooms, like a bone meal or a fertilizer like Bulb-tone. — Heather Bien, Southern Living, 18 Aug. 2026 Who knew damask rose, lily of the valley, peony, rhubarb, lychee, and vanilla were the perfect pairing? — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for peony

Word History

Etymology

Middle English piony, from Anglo-French peonie, pioiné, from Latin paeonia, from Greek paiōnia, from Paiōn Paeon, physician of the gods

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of peony was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing peony

Browse Nearby Words

peonize
peony
peony-flowered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Peony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peony. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

peony

noun
pe·​o·​ny ˈpē-ə-nē How to pronounce peony (audio)
plural peonies
: any of a genus of plants that are widely grown for their large red, pink, or white flowers

More from Merriam-Webster on peony

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about peony

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