wildflower

IPA/ˈwaɪldflaʊə(r)/
KK[wˈaɪldflˌaʊɚ]IPA/ˈwaɪldflaʊər/

wildflower — noun

1. a flower that grows on its own in fields, woods, or other natural places instead

1.nounB2
Definition

a flower that grows on its own in fields, woods, or other natural places instead of being planted in a garden

Example

Defne bent down to photograph a tiny wildflower beside the hiking trail.

wildflower beside a trail

After spring rain, wildflowers covered the empty lot behind Hari's shop.

plural: wildflowers in an open space

Common collocations
  • blue wildflower
  • native wildflower
  • wildflower meadow
  • wildflower seeds
  • field of wildflowers
Synonyms
  • flower

    a broader everyday word that also includes garden and shop flowers

  • blossom

    often focuses on the flower itself rather than the whole uncultivated plant

  • plant

    much broader because it can mean something with no flowers at all

Antonyms
  • garden flower

    usually suggests a flower planted and cared for by people

Grammar Patterns

pick a wildflower

a field of wildflowers

protect native wildflowers

Usage Note

Usually countable when you mean one flower and plural when you mean many growing together. The word suggests flowers in a natural place, not ones arranged for sale or planted in neat garden rows.

Common Mistakes

I found many wildflower near the fence.
I found many wildflowers near the fence.
Use the plural form after many.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Wildflower is more specific than flower because it points to a flower growing naturally rather than one planted in a garden or sold in a shop. Blossom usually names the bloom itself, especially on a tree, so it does not always suggest the whole plant. Weed can also describe a plant growing where people do not want it, but that word adds a negative attitude that wildflower does not have. Plant is the broadest choice and does not tell the listener that flowers are involved. Use wildflower when the natural setting matters, as in a field, roadside, or woodland path.

wildflower ↗flower ↗blossom ↗weed ↗plant ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • wildflower meadow
  • wildflower seeds
  • wildflower field
  • wildflower trail

Phrases

  • pick a wildflower
  • protect wildflowers
  • grow wildflowers

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Wildflower is an English compound built from wild and flower. It has long referred to flowers that grow naturally without being deliberately planted or carefully managed by people. The word still keeps that contrast today, especially when people talk about flowers in meadows, woods, or along roadsides.

First known use

1620

1620, in the meaning defined above