geranium
noun
ge·ra·ni·um
jə-ˈrā-nē-əm 
-nyəm
-nyəm
1
: any of a widely distributed genus (Geranium of the family Geraniaceae, the geranium family) of plants having regular usually white, pink, or purple flowers with elongated styles and glands that alternate with the petals
called also cranesbill
2
3
: a vivid or strong red
Examples of geranium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The palate bursts with rich, agave-forward flavours, revealing curious floral nuances of geranium and sweet spices.
—
Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Pots hold trailing purple sweet potato vine, bushy yellow 'Rock 'N Low' sedum, and a tall citronella-scented geranium that fit right in with the yellow wax bells and black-eyed Susans on the other side of the low stone wall.
—Mike Irvine, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2025
Its floral-botanical scent mixes notes of geranium, rosemary, and lavender.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 23 May 2025
One is an alcohol-free citrus floral scent; another features notes of ferns and geraniums.
—James Barron, New York Times, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for geranium
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.
Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Pots hold trailing purple sweet potato vine, bushy yellow 'Rock 'N Low' sedum, and a tall citronella-scented geranium that fit right in with the yellow wax bells and black-eyed Susans on the other side of the low stone wall.
—Mike Irvine, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2025
Its floral-botanical scent mixes notes of geranium, rosemary, and lavender.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 23 May 2025
One is an alcohol-free citrus floral scent; another features notes of ferns and geraniums.
—James Barron, New York Times, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for geranium
Cite this Entry
“Geranium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geranium. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
geranium
noun
ge·ra·ni·um
jə-ˈrā-nē-əm
1
: any of a genus of herbs with usually deeply cut leaves and typically white, pink, or purple flowers in which glands alternate with the petals
2
: any of a genus of herbs native to southern Africa with showy flowers of usually red, pink, or white
Etymology
from Latin geranium "geranium," from Greek geranion, literally, "little crane," from geranos "crane"
Word Origin
Many of the plants in the geranium family have long, thin, pointed seedpods or fruits that look like the bills of birds. The ancient Greeks noticed this resemblance. They named the wild geranium geranion, literally meaning "little crane," for the long-legged, long-billed wading bird. English borrowed the Latin form geranium. English also borrowed the idea that the geranium's seedpod looks like a bird's bill. The common English name of the wild geranium is cranesbill.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share