safflower

American  

[saf-lou-er] / ˈsæfˌlaʊ ər /

noun

1. a thistlelike composite plant, Carthamus tinctorius, native to the Old World, having finely toothed leaves and large, orange-red flower heads.

2. its dried florets, used medicinally or as a red dyestuff.

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safflower British  

/ ˈsæflaʊə /

noun

1. a thistle-like Eurasian annual plant, Carthamus tinctorius, having large heads of orange-yellow flowers and yielding a dye and an oil used in paints, medicines, etc: family Asteraceae (composites)

2. a red dye used for cotton and for colouring foods and cosmetics, or a drug obtained from the florets of this plant

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Etymology

Origin of safflower

1575–85; < Dutch saffloer < Middle French safleur, alteration (assimilated to safran saffron and fleur flower ) of Italian asfori < Arabic aṣfar yellow

Compare meaning

How does safflower compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• safflower vs. saffron

Example Sentences

Researchers are now examining how oxylipins lead to weight gain and whether similar reactions occur with other oils high in linoleic acid, including corn, sunflower, and safflower oils.

From Science Daily • Nov. 30, 2025

For some oil and vinegar dressings, you might want a more neutrally flavored oil, like safflower or grapeseed.

From Washington Times • Aug. 21, 2023

The reborn Tulare Lake submerged thousands of acres of farmland used to grow pistachios, almonds, cotton and safflower in one of the nation’s most productive agricultural regions, creating a seemingly endless blue horizon.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 5, 2023

I could avoid inexpensive bird food mixes that contain cracked corn, milo, wheat and rye, preferred by house sparrows, and instead use more expensive seed that contains black-oil sunflower seeds, safflower seeds and white millet.

From New York Times • Jun. 2, 2023

Rouge de Dorin.—Extract des Fleurs des Indes.—A round pot containing a porcelain disk, covered with about 6 grammes of a bright red paste, which is a mixture of carthamin or safflower with talc.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 324, March 18, 1882 by Various