a shop where flowers and ornamental plants are sold
"She stopped at the local florist to pick up some fresh lilies for her grandmother's birthday."
A person who sells flowers.
"After asking around for a reliable florist, she finally found someone whose shop smelled like fresh roses and had just the right bouquet for her mother's birthday."
In plain English: A florist is someone who sells and arranges fresh flowers for people to buy.
"She is a florist who arranges beautiful bouquets for weddings."
Usage: A florist is a professional who grows, arranges, and sells cut flowers and floral decorations. Do not confuse this role with a flower farmer, who primarily cultivates plants for harvest rather than retail display.
The word florist comes from the French fleuriste, which was built on the Latin root for "flower." It entered English to describe a person who sells or arranges flowers.