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noun

hibiscus

hih-BIHS-kuhs

Hibiscus (noun) means a flowering plant of the genus Hibiscus, often grown for its large, showy blooms, and used in some cultures to make tea. Example: “She planted a row of hibiscus along the garden fence.”

noun
1
A flowering plant of the genus Hibiscus, often grown for its large, showy blooms, and used in some cultures to make tea.
"She planted a row of hibiscus along the garden fence."
"Hibiscus tea has a tart, cranberry-like flavor."

How to use hibiscus

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA tropical flowering plant known for its big, colorful blossoms.

Common pairings
hibiscus tea hibiscus flower

Word forms

hibiscuses plural, hibisci plural

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Test yourself on “hibiscus” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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She planted a row of _____ along the garden fence.

Etymology

From Latin "hibiscum," from Ancient Greek "ibískos" (marsh mallow), likely ultimately from a Gaulish word.

Origin: Ancient Greek

Rhymes for hibiscus

See all rhymes for hibiscus →

Frequently asked questions

What does “hibiscus” mean?

The word “hibiscus” means a flowering plant of the genus Hibiscus, often grown for its large, showy blooms, and used in some cultures to make tea. In plain terms, a tropical flowering plant known for its big, colorful blossoms.

How do you pronounce “hibiscus”?

“Hibiscus” is pronounced hih-BIHS-kuhs (/hɪˈbɪskəs/ in IPA).

How do you use “hibiscus” in a sentence?

Here is “hibiscus” used in a sentence: “She planted a row of hibiscus along the garden fence.”

What part of speech is “hibiscus”?

“Hibiscus” is a noun.

Where does the word “hibiscus” come from?

The word “hibiscus” comes from Ancient Greek. From Latin "hibiscum," from Ancient Greek "ibískos" (marsh mallow), likely ultimately from a Gaulish word.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial