pansy

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableoffensiveold-fashionedslang

   An old-fashioned insulting word for a man thought to be weak, timid or not masculine enough; it is now considered offensive, especially when aimed at gay men.

   Grammar: Used about a person: do not call someone a pansy.

   Patterns

   • call someone a pansy

   Boys used to hurl the word pansy at classmates who avoided fights, and it is now considered a hurtful slur.

   The novel shows how the word pansy was used to bully a shy character.

   Teachers explained why using pansy as an insult is not acceptable.

2. 2nouncountable

   A garden plant with flat, rounded flowers in rich colors, often with a dark center, grown in beds and pots.

   Grammar: Countable: a pansy, a bed of pansies.

   Patterns

   • a bed of pansies

   She planted purple pansies along the front path.

   Pansies bloom in cool weather and can survive light frost.

   The window box was full of yellow and blue pansies.

Word forms

Common combinations

bed of pansies

A bed of pansies bordered the lawn.

plant pansies

We plant pansies in October for spring color.

call someone a pansy

Calling someone a pansy is offensive and should be avoided.

pansy flowers

Pansy flowers can be eaten as a salad garnish.

wild pansy

The wild pansy grows in meadows.

Synonyms and how they differ

viola

Viola is the wider plant group that includes pansies, and it usually means a smaller-flowered type.

wimp

Wimp is a milder, informal insult for a weak person, but it does not carry the targeted offensiveness of pansy.

sissy

Sissy is also dated and insulting, aimed at timid boys, and shares pansy's offensive tone.

Word family

pansies noun

the plural form

pensée noun

the French word for thought, source of the flower's name

Commonly confused: pansy or viola?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “pansy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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