: any of a large family (Orchidaceae, the orchid family) of perennial epiphytic or terrestrial monocotyledonous plants that usually have showy 3-petaled flowers with the middle petal enlarged into a lip and differing from the others in shape and color
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.
As a sweet gesture, Shammas also presented Lohan with a massive bouquet of purple orchids and pink stargazer lilies.—Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026 If your orchid has been overwatered, the first thing to do is stop watering it!—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026 In general, an orchid can be in the same pot for three years.—Ryan Conner, Dallas Morning News, 1 Apr. 2026 An escalator ride up from the Dolby Theatre (guests wearing gowns were warned to scoop up their dresses), the ballroom was bursting with 12,500 flowers — including blush roses, otherworldly anthurium and bright orchids.—Brittany Levine Beckman, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for orchid
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from New Latin orchid-, the base of the taxa names Orchideae and Orchidaceae — more at orchidaceous
: any plant or flower of a large family of plants that have usually showy flowers with three petals of which the middle petal is enlarged and differs from the others in shape and color