Primary
''pansy'' ▫ᴱᴺ｜Definition｜1st｜20260708144405-00-⌔
pansy - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
English
Noun
pansy (plural pansies)
- A cultivated flowering plant, derived by hybridization within species Viola tricolor.
- ✤ The Daughters of the Flood have ſearch’d the Mead/For Violets pale, and cropt the Poppy’s Head:/The Short Narciſſus and fair Daffodil,/Pancies to pleaſe the Sight, and Caſſia ſvveet to ſmell: […]1
- ✤ Oh, what a perfect thought. Lilies-of-the-valley, and white pansies, double white violets and white velvet ribbon… From an unknown friend. … From one who understands. … For a Little Girl.2
- A deep purple colour, like that of the pansy.
- ✤ pansy:
- Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Junonia.
- ✤ Synonym: argus
- (derogatory, colloquial) A timid, weak man or boy; a wuss.
- ✤ Synonyms: see Thesaurus: milksop
- (derogatory, colloquial, dated) A male homosexual, especially one who is effeminate.
- ✤ Synonyms: see Thesaurus: male homosexual, Thesaurus: effeminate man
Adjective
pansy (not comparable)
- Wimpy; spineless; feeble.
- Of a deep purple colour, like that of the pansy.
Verb
pansy (third-person singular simple present pansies, present participle pansying, simple past and past participle pansied)
- (slang, intransitive, usually with “around” or “about”) To mess about; to fail to get things done.
Etymology
From Middle French pensée (“thought”), as the plant resembles someone that is in deep thought, with a lowered head. Doublet of pensée.
Pronunciation
- Audio (Australian): 🔊
- IPA: /ˈpæn.zi/
- Rhymes: -ænzi
Printed 2026-07-08.
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Link to original Footnotes
1697, Virgil, “The Second Pastoral. Or, Alexis.”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 6: ↩
1920, Katherine Mansfield [pseudonym; Kathleen Mansfield Murry], “Revelations”, in Bliss and Other Stories, London: Constable & Company, published 1920, →OCLC, page 271: ↩
Secondary
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