What does daffodil mean?
A daffodil is a bulbous flowering plant belonging to the genus Narcissus, celebrated for its bright yellow blooms that appear in early spring. Each flower features a central trumpet-shaped crown surrounded by six petal-like segments, a structure that makes it instantly recognizable among garden and wildflowers. Native originally to parts of Europe and North Africa, daffodils have been cultivated for centuries and naturalized widely across temperate regions, often returning year after year from underground bulbs with little care. The word functions as a straightforward noun in both British and American English, used both for the plant itself and for its individual flowers, which are frequently gathered into bouquets or planted en masse in parks and gardens. Beyond horticulture, the daffodil has rich symbolic resonance: it stands as the national flower of Wales and serves as the emblem of the Marie Curie charity in the United Kingdom. In literature it is forever associated with William Wordsworth's famous poem describing a host of golden daffodils, which helped establish the flower as an enduring emblem of spring, renewal, and quiet joy.
nounA daffodil is a bulbous spring-flowering plant of the genus Narcissus, bearing typically yellow flowers with a trumpet-shaped central corona surrounded by six petal-like segments.
- A bulbous spring plant of the genus Narcissus with yellow, trumpet-centred flowers.
- The flower of this plant, often used figuratively as an emblem of spring and rebirth.
"The hillside was carpeted with wild daffodils by early March."
"She planted two hundred daffodil bulbs along the driveway one October afternoon."
"After the long grey winter, even a single daffodil on the windowsill felt like a promise."
Standard regular plural; used both for multiple plants and for cut flowers.
"The florist arranged tulips and daffodils together in a cheerful spring bouquet."
William Wordsworth's poem about stumbling on a host of golden daffodils did more to fix this flower in the English imagination than any botanist ever could.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of daffodil
The word 'daffodil' entered English in the mid-sixteenth century as a variant of 'affodill', which derived from the Latin 'asphodelus', itself borrowed from the Greek 'asphodelos', a name applied to several plants of the lily order. The initial 'd' likely arose through Dutch influence, from forms such as 'de affodille'. The name ultimately became fixed on the familiar trumpet-flowered Narcissus rather than the true asphodel of classical tradition, which was famously associated with the meadows of the Greek underworld.
How daffodil is actually used
In British English, the daffodil carries strong cultural weight as the national flower of Wales and as the emblem of the Marie Curie cancer-care charity. The word is entirely neutral in register and appears freely in both everyday speech and poetry.
Easily confused with daffodil
A jonquil is a specific species of Narcissus (N. jonquilla) with rush-like leaves and usually fragrant, clustered yellow flowers, whereas 'daffodil' broadly covers the whole genus.
Narcissus is the botanical genus that includes all daffodils; 'daffodil' is the common name most often applied to large-trumpeted varieties within it.