flower people: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Historical, Nostalgic
Quick answer
What does “flower people” mean?
Hippies.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Hippies; members of the 1960s counterculture movement characterized by pacifism, a communal lifestyle, and an affinity for flowers as symbols of love and peace.
Can refer to any group or individual embodying a gentle, idealistic, nature-loving, and non-conformist ethos, often in a nostalgic or whimsical context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated in the US counterculture but was adopted in the UK, with no significant difference in meaning.
Connotations
In both dialects, it evokes the same cultural era. It may be used more ironically or dismissively in the UK.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American English due to the term's origins in the San Francisco hippie scene ('flower children').
Grammar
How to Use “flower people” in a Sentence
The [adjective] flower peopleFlower people [verb phrase]Era of the flower peopleVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flower people” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The festival had a distinctly flower-people vibe.
- She wore a flower-people headband.
American English
- That was a real flower-people thing to do.
- He has a flower-people philosophy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used, except perhaps in marketing for retro-themed products.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or cultural studies contexts to describe the 1960s movement.
Everyday
Used in casual conversation, often with nostalgia or gentle mockery.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “flower people”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “flower people”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flower people”
- Using 'flower people' to refer to modern environmental activists (more accurate: 'eco-warriors').
- Using it as a singular noun ('a flower people' – incorrect; say 'a flower person' or 'a hippie').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Essentially yes. 'Flower people' (or 'flower children') is a specific term for the early, idealistic hippies of the mid-to-late 1960s, often associated with San Francisco.
It would be anachronistic. You might use it metaphorically to describe someone with a similar gentle, hippie-like demeanour, but the term is firmly rooted in the past.
It was the slogan and philosophy of the flower people, advocating non-violent protest and using flowers as symbols of peace and love to counter aggression.
It depends on context. It can be used positively to denote peace and idealism, or negatively/ironically to denote naive, impractical idealism.
Hippies.
Flower people is usually informal, historical, nostalgic in register.
Flower people: in British English it is pronounced /ˈflaʊə ˌpiːpl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈflaʊər ˌpiːpl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't trust anyone over thirty. (associated saying)”
- “Flower power.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Picture people weaving flowers into their hair – they are the 'flower people'.
Conceptual Metaphor
PEACE IS A FLOWER; SOCIAL REVOLUTION IS A NATURAL BLOOMING.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate synonym for 'flower people' in a historical context?