gladiola

noun

glad·​i·​o·​la ˌgla-dē-ˈō-lə How to pronounce gladiola (audio)
: gladiolus sense 1

Examples of gladiola 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.
Summer flowering bulbs and tubers like gladiolas and dahlias can go in the ground this month. — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026 Perennials that need a warm space to overwinter: Tender plants like geraniums, dahlias, gladiolas and, yes, peppers will hold over the winter in many locations, providing the conditions are right. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026 These are engulfing along with smells coming from dahlias, carnations, gladiolas, poppies and peonies springing from the 12,920-square-foot urban flower farm at the foot of Belleville’s reservoir. — Jennifer Weil, WWD, 20 Sep. 2024 Two smartly uniformed security staffers register visitors at a long, white marble desk anchored by an arrangement of lilies and gladiolas. — Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for gladiola

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from gladiolus, taken as a plural

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gladiola was in 1926

Rhymes for gladiola

See All Rhymes for gladiola

Browse Nearby Words

gladiatory
gladiola
gladiolar
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gladiola.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gladiola. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

gladiola

noun
glad·​i·​o·​la ˌglad-ē-ˈō-lə How to pronounce gladiola (audio)
: gladiolus
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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
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
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All