gardener

gardener — noun

1. someone who grows flowers, vegetables, or other plants and takes care of them in

1.nounA2
Definition

someone who grows flowers, vegetables, or other plants and takes care of them in a garden.

Example

Tara became a gardener after she retired from teaching.

became a gardener — career or identity change pattern

The gardener planted sunflowers along the back fence of the yard.

Common collocations
  • careful gardener
  • experienced gardener
  • good gardener
Synonyms
  • horticulturist

    more formal and scientific; implies expert-level plant knowledge

  • groundskeeper

    focuses on maintaining large outdoor areas rather than a personal garden

Grammar Patterns

a/the gardener

plural: gardeners

Common Mistakes

Laura is a gardener and she designs botanical garden layouts.
Laura is a landscape designer who creates garden plans.
A gardener typically maintains plants; someone who designs gardens is called a landscape designer or garden designer.

2. a person whose paid job is to take care of gardens, parks, or other planted area

2.nounA2
Definition

a person whose paid job is to take care of gardens, parks, or other planted areas, for example by cutting grass, trimming bushes, and watering plants.

Example

Nikos works as a gardener for the university, taking care of the campus gardens.

works as a gardener for [employer] — job description pattern

The hotel gardener trims the tall hedges every Tuesday afternoon.

compound noun: hotel gardener / city gardener / park gardener

Common collocations
  • hired gardener
  • professional gardener
  • works as a gardener
  • gardener at [place]
Synonyms
  • groundskeeper

    more common in American English for someone who maintains sports fields or large grounds

  • landscaper

    focuses on designing and building outdoor spaces, not just maintaining them

Grammar Patterns

a/the gardener

works as a gardener

gardener for [employer]

Usage Note

Frequently used with a description of the workplace: 'gardener at + [place]' or 'gardener for + [organisation]'. The term often implies routine maintenance tasks such as mowing, pruning, and weeding, rather than landscape design.

3. someone who enjoys growing plants, flowers, or vegetables in their spare time as

3.nounB1
Definition

someone who enjoys growing plants, flowers, or vegetables in their spare time as a personal interest rather than for money.

Example

Quinn is a keen gardener who spends every Saturday morning in the greenhouse.

keen/avid/enthusiastic gardener — common adjectives for hobbyists

Sivan, an enthusiastic weekend gardener, grows tomatoes and peppers on the balcony.

weekend gardener — compound noun for hobbyist identity

Common collocations
  • keen gardener
  • avid gardener
  • enthusiastic gardener
  • weekend gardener
  • devoted gardener
Synonyms
  • plant enthusiast

    broader term; includes people who collect or study plants but may not actively tend a garden

Grammar Patterns

a keen gardener

an enthusiastic gardener

gardener at heart

Usage Note

Commonly modified by adjectives such as keen, avid, enthusiastic, devoted, or weekend. These modifiers distinguish this sense from the professional sense (index 2).

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Gardener is the most general word for anyone who tends plants in a garden, whether as a paid worker or a hobbyist. A horticulturist has formal training in plant science and often works in research, nurseries, or botanical gardens — the word carries a more academic tone. A landscaper designs and builds outdoor spaces, deciding where patios, paths, and flower beds go, rather than just maintaining existing plants. A groundskeeper (common in US English) takes care of large outdoor areas such as sports fields, school campuses, or golf courses, focusing on grass, pathways, and general upkeep. For example: 'We hired a landscaper to design the garden, a gardener to maintain it weekly, and a groundskeeper to look after the playing field.'

gardener ↗horticulturistlandscapergroundskeeper

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • work as a gardener
  • hire a gardener
  • keen gardener
  • community gardener

Prepositions

  • at [place]
  • for [employer/organisation]
  • in [garden/park]

Etymology

Old FrenchAnglo-NormanMiddle EnglishEnglish

Gardener comes from the Old French word 'gardinier', meaning 'keeper of a garden'. It entered English through Anglo-Norman around the 13th century, when large estate gardens were common in medieval Europe.