floraphilia
|flo-ra-phi-li-a|
🇺🇸
/ˌflɔrəˈfɪliə/
🇬🇧
/ˌflɔːrəˈfɪliə/
love of flowers / floral affection
Etymology
'floraphilia' originates as a modern coinage combining Latin 'Flora' (the Roman goddess and the general word for plant life/flowers) and Greek 'philia' (φιλία) meaning 'affection' or 'love'.
'Flora' comes from Latin 'Flora' (the goddess name and noun for plant life), itself used in botanical Latin; 'philia' is from Greek 'philia' meaning affectionate love. The compound follows a modern English/Neo-Latin pattern of forming interest-preferring nouns (e.g. 'bibliophilia', 'audiophilia'), producing 'floraphilia' in recent coinage.
Initially the components referred separately to the goddess/plant-life concept ('Flora') and affectionate love ('philia'); together in modern usage they form a coined term meaning 'love of flowers/flowering plants' with no prior historical sense beyond the sum of its parts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a strong love or fondness for flowers (or flowering plants); an attraction to flowers as objects of aesthetic or emotional appreciation.
Her floraphilia was obvious from the bouquets she kept in every room.
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Noun 2
a tendency or preference (psychological or aesthetic) expressed by someone who seeks out or is especially drawn to floral displays, gardens, or floral motifs.
Many interior designers with floraphilia favor floral patterns and fresh blossoms in their projects.
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Adjective 1
relating to or characteristic of floraphilia; showing a love of flowers.
She created a floraphilic arrangement for the wedding ceremony.
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Adverb 1
in a manner that shows floraphilia; with evident love of flowers.
She decorated the room floraphilically, filling every corner with blooms.
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Last updated: 2025/10/08 19:44