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Definition of sweet pea
sweet pea
Plural:sweet peas
sweet pea Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
4
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
• noun
1
A climbing plant (Lathyrus odoratus) of the legume family, native to southern Italy and the Aegean Islands, widely cultivated for its strongly fragrant, colorful flowers.
Example
"She planted a trellis of sweet peas along the garden wall to enjoy their beautiful purple blossoms and sweet scent in the spring."
2
An affectionate term of endearment used for a loved one, especially a child or a romantic partner.
Example
"It is time for bed now, my little sweet pea."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for sweet peaWord Nuance & Usage
Although the sweet pea is closely related to the common garden pea, it is a false friend to foragers; the seeds of the sweet pea are mildly toxic and strictly ornamental.
• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Sweet pea. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/sweet pea