noun
pansy
PAN-zee
noun
1
A small cultivated garden flower with broad, often multicoloured petals.
"She planted rows of pansies along the garden path."
2
An informal, often dismissive term for a timid or weak person.
"Stop being a pansy and try the roller coaster."
How to Use Pansy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA garden flower, or (as slang) an insult meaning someone is weak or cowardly.
When to use it
The "weak person" sense is dated and can be considered offensive; use with caution.
Word Forms
pansied past tense, pansies plural, pansies singular
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Stop being a _____ and try the roller coaster.
Etymology
From Middle French pensée ("thought"), because the flower's drooping head was fancied to look like someone deep in thought.