What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
posey
Example
He surprised her with a beautiful posey of roses. [posey: noun]
Example
The little girl wore a posey of daisies on her dress. [posey: noun]
Example
The bride carried a posey of lilies down the aisle. [posey: noun]
nosegay
Example
She received a lovely nosegay of wildflowers from her admirer. [nosegay: noun]
Example
The bridesmaids carried nosegays of lavender and baby's breath. [nosegay: noun]
Example
The little boy pinned a nosegay of violets to his mother's lapel. [nosegay: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Nosegay is slightly more common than posey in everyday language, but both words are relatively uncommon and may be unfamiliar to ESL learners.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between posey and nosegay?
Both posey and nosegay are relatively formal words and are typically used in more elegant or sophisticated contexts, such as weddings or formal events.
