water hyacinth

noun

: a showy floating aquatic herb (Eichhornia crassipes) of tropical South America that has become naturalized in warm regions (as of the southern U.S.) often clogging waterways

Examples of water hyacinth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In 1910, America had two big problems to solve: a shortage of meat, and an abundance of invasive water hyacinth choking off the Mississippi river delta. Sandra Gutierrez, Popular Science, 25 Oct. 2023 Numerous examples include water hyacinths clogging up lakes and rivers in Africa, lion fish impacting local fisheries in the Caribbean and the Giant African land snail taking over villages on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. Helen Regan, CNN, 5 Sep. 2023 The report deemed the water hyacinth, which is popping up everywhere from Africa to Australia, the most widespread invasive plant on Earth. Dino Grandoni, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Sep. 2023 Natural materials such as rattan and water hyacinth will match just about any home aesthetic and can be used to organize a variety of rooms in the house. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023 Instead, never release water hyacinth into the wild! Steve Bender, Southern Living, 7 July 2023 More than a century later, water hyacinths still menace Southern waters. Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2023 Yes, hippos would relish dining on water hyacinths. Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2023 The paper backing is made from water hyacinth, an invasive plant species that has adversely affected Africa’s largest lake and the work of local fishermen. Emily Shiffer, womenshealthmag.com, 18 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'water hyacinth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of water hyacinth was in 1706

Dictionary Entries Near water hyacinth

Cite this Entry

“Water hyacinth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20hyacinth. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

water hyacinth

noun
: a floating water plant often clogging waterways in the southern U.S.

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