loosestrife
noun
loose·strife ˈlü(s)-ˌstrīf 
1
: any of a genus (Lysimachia) of plants of the primrose family with leafy stems and usually yellow or white flowers
2
: any of a genus (Lythrum, family Lythraceae, the loosestrife family) of herbs having entire leaves and including some with showy spikes of purple flowers
especially : purple loosestrife
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Purple loosestrife is quickly recognizable, thanks to its upright purple flower spikes that bloom from midsummer through fall. 
Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2020 To combat the problem, beetles that dined on loosestrife were introduced. Connie Bruck, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2018 Garden Invasives: Eurasian bush honeysuckle, Japanese knotweed, Japanese barberry, burning bush, haveart bishop’s goutweed and purple loosestrife. Joanne Kempinger Demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2017 Visitors to the preserve trundle along a wobbly wooden boardwalk, where they are welcomed by a breathtaking view of a serene, blue lake framed by stands of native flora: swamp loosestrife, pickerel weed, lotus flowers, swamp milkweed and buttonbush. James F. Mccarty, cleveland.com, 6 Aug. 2017 Purple loosestrife beetles were imported from Germany to another invasive species from overtaking the wetlands. Lydia Lohrer, Detroit Free Press, 5 Aug. 2017 Native loosestrife has tiny yellow buttercup flowers and bronze leaves. Perdita Buchan, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 May 2017 See More
Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2020 To combat the problem, beetles that dined on loosestrife were introduced. Connie Bruck, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2018 Garden Invasives: Eurasian bush honeysuckle, Japanese knotweed, Japanese barberry, burning bush, haveart bishop’s goutweed and purple loosestrife. Joanne Kempinger Demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2017 Visitors to the preserve trundle along a wobbly wooden boardwalk, where they are welcomed by a breathtaking view of a serene, blue lake framed by stands of native flora: swamp loosestrife, pickerel weed, lotus flowers, swamp milkweed and buttonbush. James F. Mccarty, cleveland.com, 6 Aug. 2017 Purple loosestrife beetles were imported from Germany to another invasive species from overtaking the wetlands. Lydia Lohrer, Detroit Free Press, 5 Aug. 2017 Native loosestrife has tiny yellow buttercup flowers and bronze leaves. Perdita Buchan, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 May 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
intended as translation of Greek lysimacheios loosestrife (as if from lysis act of loosing + machesthai to fight) — more at lysis
First Known Use
1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing loosestrife
- chromatography
- chromatolyses
- chromatolysis
- chromatolytic
- chromatone process
- chromatophil
- chromatophile
- chromatophore
- chromatophores
- chromatoplasm
- chromatoscope
- chromatrope
- chromatype
- chromatypes
- chrome
- chrome alum
- chrome black
- chrome brick
- chrome cake
- chrome citron
- chrome dye
- chrome green
- chrome iron
- chrome iron ore
- chrome leather