orchid

noun

or·​chid ˈȯr-kəd How to pronounce orchid (audio)
1
: 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
2
: a light purple
orchidlike
ˈȯr-kəd-ˌlīk How to pronounce orchid (audio)
adjective

Illustration of orchid

Illustration of orchid
  • orchid 1

Examples of orchid 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.
Rooms at the Villa Miloer have ethanol-burning fireplaces, potted orchids, and cocoa silk-tweed sofas with suede pillows. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2026 The new Sweet Marshmallow layering balm is a blend of orchid, marshmallow, and musk, according to the brand, while the Fruity Pear layering balm is a blend of pear, lotus blossom, and white wood. — Casey Delbasso, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026 Plant it in loose, fast-draining soil mixed with perlite, pumice, or orchid bark, or a combination of all, to keep the roots from rotting. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2026 This masterpiece features bright, multi-colored, and detailed orchids for a truly striking design. — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 2 Aug. 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

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of orchid was in 1845

Phrases Containing orchid

Browse Nearby Words

orchestrion
orchid
Orchidaceae
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Orchid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orchid. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

orchid

noun
or·​chid ˈȯr-kəd How to pronounce orchid (audio)
1
: 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
2
: a light purple

More from Merriam-Webster on orchid

Nglish: Translation of orchid for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of pedagogical

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All