What does wilders mean?
“Wilders” is the plural of the uncommon noun “wilder.” In its established horticultural sense, a wilder is a wild plant grown or maintained under cultivation, and “wilders” refers to several such plants; the noun can also denote people who cultivate wild plants. Because the form is uncommon in ordinary modern prose, it is most likely to appear in specialist, historical, or literary contexts. Its associations come from “wild,” recalling vegetation growing outside deliberate human control even when that growth is subsequently brought under managed conditions. This makes “wilders” useful in precise horticultural writing because it can distinguish plants cultivated from wild stock from conventionally bred varieties. The plural is a regular English noun inflection, although readers will encounter it much less often than its singular. In modern prose, the singular “wilder” is often clearer and less likely to be misread.
plural nounThe plural form of wilder, especially cultivators of wild plants or wild plants maintained under cultivation.
- The plural of wilder, referring to people who cultivate wild plants or to wild plants maintained under cultivation.
"The nursery keeps its wilders separate from its conventionally bred varieties."
"The catalogue describes each of the wilders as a native stock adapted to the local climate."
"In the old account, the wilders gathered seeds from plants growing beyond the cultivated fields."
Wilders is the regular plural of the uncommon noun wilder.
"The catalogue lists several wilders from different native habitats."
Wilders bring the wild under cultivation without erasing the wild ancestry of the plant.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of wilders
The base is Middle English wilde, from Old English wilde, meaning “uncultivated” or “free from human control.” The noun “wilder” developed in connection with wild plants and their cultivation, and the regular plural suffix -s produced “wilders.” Related forms include “wilderness” and “wildness,” while continental Germanic cognates include Dutch wild and German wild.
Related word forms
How wilders is actually used
Wilders is uncommon in contemporary general English and is chiefly encountered in horticultural, historical, or literary contexts. It should not be confused with the plural comparative of wild.
Easily confused with wilders
Wilders are associated with wild plants or their cultivation, whereas wielders are people who use a weapon, tool, or power.