Saponaria

noun

Sap·​o·​nar·​ia
: a genus of Old World herbs (family Caryophyllaceae) having large flowers with a tubular or gibbous calyx, five clawed petals, and a 4-valved capsular fruit see soapwort

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Medieval Latin, feminine of saponarius of soap, from Latin sapon-, sapo soap + -arius -ary

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near Saponaria

Cite this Entry

“Saponaria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Saponaria. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!