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Definition of polygala

polygala

/pəˈlɪɡələ/
po · lyg · a · la
Plural:polygalas
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polygala Lexical Profile

polygala Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of various widely distributed herbs, shrubs, or small trees of the genus Polygala (family Polygalaceae), commonly known as milkworts, cultivated for their irregular, pea-like blossoms in shades of purple, pink, yellow, or white that feature two large petaloid sepals and a crested lower petal.

Synonyms
View all synonyms for polygala

• Nearby Words

polliwog
pollock
polyanthus
polygala
polygonatum
polygonum
polypterus

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed via Latin from Ancient Greek 'polygala', a compound of 'polys' (much) and 'gala' (milk), referencing the ancient belief that cattle grazing on these plants yielded more milk.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Polygala. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/polygala
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