Narcissus has two main meanings: it can refer to a flowering plant, or to the figure from Greek mytha traditional story about gods or ancient heroes who became obsessedthinking about something so much that it becomes hard to stop with his own reflectionan image seen in a mirror or shiny surface. The plant sense is the everyday meaning most people are looking for.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /nɑrˈsɪsəs/
Easy pronunciation: nar-SIS-uhs (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable: SIS.
Use this pronunciation for the flower sense, the plant with showy yellow or white blossoms.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Narcissus Meaning
a flowering plant such as a daffodil or jonquil
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a bulbous plant with upright, narrow leaves and showy yellow or white flowers, growing alone or in clusters
Example: The garden was full of narcissus blooming in early spring.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- daffodil — A common name for one major type of narcissus; widely used for the flower sense.
- jonquil — A type of narcissus, but more specific than the general word narcissus.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Narcissus
Meaning 2
the mythological youth Narcissus
Part of speech: noun
Definition: in Greek mythology, a handsome young man who fell in love with his own reflection
Example: The story of Narcissus is often used to explain vanity.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Narcissus Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- daffodil
- jonquil
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use narcissus to mean vanity or self-love in general, but that is an extended idea rather than the core dictionary sense.
- Do not confuse the flower noun narcissus with the mythological character Narcissus; they are different senses.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does narcissus mean?
Narcissus usually means a flowering plant with yellow or white blooms. It can also mean the figure from Greek mythology who fell in love with his own reflection.
What are synonyms of narcissus?
For the plant sense, strong substitutes include daffodil and, more specifically, jonquil. The mythological sense does not have a true everyday synonym.
Is narcissus the same as a daffodil?
Often, yes. Daffodil is a common name for one kind of narcissus, though narcissus is the broader term.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
