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Definition of gladiola

gladiola

/ˌɡlæd.iˈoʊ.lə/
glad · i · o · la
Plural:gladiolas
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gladiola Lexical Profile

gladiola Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A cormous perennial plant of the genus Gladiolus in the iris family (Iridaceae), native primarily to sub-Saharan Africa and the Mediterranean, having long, sword-shaped leaves and tall spikes of showy, funnel-shaped flowers in various bright colors.

Example

"She arranged several tall pink and white gladiolas in a crystal vase for the dining room centerpiece."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for gladiola

Word Nuance & Usage

"Gladiola" originated as an alteration of the Latin plural "gladioli", reinterpreted in everyday English as a singular noun taking the regular plural "gladiolas", while "gladiolus" remains the standard botanical form.

• Rhymes for gladiola

• Nearby Words

glade
gladiator
gladiatorial
gladiola
gladiolus
gladly
gladness

Word Origin & Etymology

Altered from the Latin plural "gladioli", from "gladiolus" meaning "little sword" (diminutive of "gladius", "sword"), in reference to the shape of the plant's leaves.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gladiola. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gladiola
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