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.

---

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

---

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

But a host of other row crops are also used as a source of oils, including cotton, corn, safflower, peanut and flax.

From Salon • Jul. 29, 2024

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

From Washington Times • Aug. 21, 2023

Once the largest body of freshwater west of the Mississippi, Tulare Lake was drained by farmers who diverted inflows to irrigate fields of cotton, pistachios, safflower and almonds in the San Joaquin Valley.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2023

In vest of saffron pale and safflower red, i.

From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 10 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir