Illustration of Venus flytrap
Venus flytrap
noun
Venus fly·trap
-ˈflī-ˌtrap 
: an insectivorous plant (Dionaea muscipula) of the sundew family of the Carolina coast with the leaf apex modified into an insect trap
called also Venus's-flytrap
Examples of Venus flytrap in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The stop-motion Harrison has friendly interactions with gnomes, a Venus flytrap, a distinguished-looking oak tree, and even a sentient being who lives in a cave.
—
Devon Ivie, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
In addition to history, arts, and culture, Wilmington is also one of the only places in the country where the carnivorous Venus flytraps grow wild.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
My orchids can outwit other life forms, and so can my Venus flytrap (currently choking on a common house fly).
—Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025
We’re currently obsessed with the nine arid and tropical plants, including a Venus flytrap, in the Tiny Plants collection and the accident-prone Hei Hei rooster from Disney’s Moana.
—Izzy Baskette, People.com, 15 June 2025
Some carnivorous plants ensnare insects and other small invertebrates, like the famous Venus flytraps of North Carolina and South Carolina’s marshes.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 June 2025
View on Reddit 19K upvotes Comment View 1892 comments
What a Venus Flytrap Should Look Like
The real Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a small carnivorous plant native to subtropical wetlands on the East Coast of the United States.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
The elements in general are definitely reminiscent of the traps on a Venus flytrap, although they were actually inspired by the prey-catching appendages of another carnivorous plant, the aquatic waterwheel (Aldrovanda vesiculosa).
—Ben Coxworth
may 23, New Atlas, 23 May 2025
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Devon Ivie, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
In addition to history, arts, and culture, Wilmington is also one of the only places in the country where the carnivorous Venus flytraps grow wild.
—Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
My orchids can outwit other life forms, and so can my Venus flytrap (currently choking on a common house fly).
—Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025
We’re currently obsessed with the nine arid and tropical plants, including a Venus flytrap, in the Tiny Plants collection and the accident-prone Hei Hei rooster from Disney’s Moana.
—Izzy Baskette, People.com, 15 June 2025
Some carnivorous plants ensnare insects and other small invertebrates, like the famous Venus flytraps of North Carolina and South Carolina’s marshes.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 June 2025
View on Reddit 19K upvotes Comment View 1892 comments
What a Venus Flytrap Should Look Like
The real Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a small carnivorous plant native to subtropical wetlands on the East Coast of the United States.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
The elements in general are definitely reminiscent of the traps on a Venus flytrap, although they were actually inspired by the prey-catching appendages of another carnivorous plant, the aquatic waterwheel (Aldrovanda vesiculosa).
—Ben Coxworth
may 23, New Atlas, 23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Venus flytrap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Venus%20flytrap. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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