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florid

adjective
flor·​id | \ ˈflȯr-əd How to pronounce florid (audio) , ˈflär-\

Definition of florid

1a : very flowery in style : ornate florid prose florid declamations also : having a florid style a florid writer
b : elaborately decorated a florid interior
c obsolete : covered with flowers
2a : tinged with red : ruddy a florid complexion
b : marked by emotional or sexual fervor a florid secret life a florid sensibility
3 : fully developed : manifesting a complete and typical clinical syndrome the florid stage of a disease
4 archaic : healthy
Other Words from florid Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about florid

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Other Words from florid

floridity \ flə-​ˈri-​də-​tē How to pronounce floridity (audio) , flȯ-​ \ noun
floridly \ ˈflȯr-​əd-​lē How to pronounce floridly (audio) , ˈflär-​ \ adverb
floridness \ ˈflȯr-​əd-​nəs How to pronounce floridness (audio) , ˈflär-​ \ noun

Did You Know?

When it first entered English "florid" was used with the literal meaning "covered with flowers." That use, though now obsolete, hints at the word's history. English speakers borrowed "florid" from the Latin adjective floridus ("blooming" or "flowery"), itself from the verb "florēre" ("to bloom"). "Florēre," which in turn comes from a Latin root meaning "flower," is also an ancestor of the words "flourish" and "florescence" ("a state or period of flourishing"). These days, "florid" can refer to an overblown style in speech, writing, or decoration. As such, its synonyms include "ornate," "rococo," and "overwrought."

Examples of florid in a Sentence

a florid, gilded mirror that took up most of the wall gave a florid speech in honor of the queen's visit

Recent Examples on the Web

 Her taut yet florid performance earned an Oscar nomination, for Best Actress. — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, "What to Stream: “Afterglow,” a Melodramatic Spotlight for Julie Christie," 30 Aug. 2019 With its florid flora and prehistoric fauna, its end-of-the-road otherness, its castles literally built on sand, this flat appendage dangling from the southeast corner of the continental U.S. makes a fine backdrop for all kinds of craziness. — Los Angeles Times, "‘Florida Man’ is so over. On TV, Florida women are having their day," 23 Aug. 2019 In the years since those poems, Pound had become notorious for his fascist politics and florid anti-Semitism. — The New York Review of Books, "Edward Mendelson," 7 Mar. 2019 Males also sport extremely colorful rear-ends, and will shake a florid array of blues, purples, golds and reds in a quest to woo potential mates. — Nadia Drake, National Geographic, "How peacock spiders use optical illusions to woo females," 22 May 2019 His singing was interspersed with florid solos from members of the orchestra, so that the virtuosity spread across instruments and suggested a hero-singer of boundless gifts. — Corinna Da Fonseca-wollheim, New York Times, "Past and Present, the Orpheus Myth Makes Us Rethink Music," 20 Apr. 2018 Her sentences are often florid without feeling overdone, and regularly demand to be savored. — Emily Bobrow, WSJ, "‘Dark Water’ Review: Unfathomable Depths," 28 Dec. 2018 Behind it, a florid, calligraphy-like graffiti design on the wall appears to be growing out of the artwork, like weeds tangled up in a chain link fence. — Deborah Vankin, latimes.com, "Shinique Smith's 'Refuge' explores shelter, homelessness and the excess of our stuff," 13 June 2018 William Chambers and Robert Adam were summoned to make improvements, but the serious young king deemed Adam’s work too florid, and Chambers’ sober schemes prevailed. — Noor Brara, Vogue, "Inside Buckingham Palace’s Resplendent, Never-Before Seen Rooms," 4 Oct. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'florid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of florid

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

History and Etymology for florid

Latin floridus blooming, flowery, from florēre

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More Definitions for florid

florid

adjective
How to pronounce florid (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of florid

: very fancy or too fancy
: having a red or reddish color

See the full definition for florid in the English Language Learners Dictionary

florid

adjective
flor·​id | \ ˈflȯr-əd How to pronounce florid (audio) \

Kids Definition of florid

1 : very fancy or flowery in style florid writing
2 : having a reddish color a florid face

florid

adjective
flor·​id | \ ˈflȯr-əd, ˈflär- How to pronounce florid (audio) \

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