dragon

noun

drag·​on ˈdra-gən 

1

archaic : a huge serpent

2

: a mythical animal usually represented as a monstrous winged and scaly serpent or saurian with a crested head and enormous claws

3

: a violent, combative, or very strict person

4

capitalized : draco

5

: something or someone formidable or baneful

dragonish

ˈdra-gə-nish 

adjective

Examples of dragon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

CrystaLynx Dragons Three-dimensional dragons are a hit with kids right now, specifically my 5-year-old and his 10-year-old cousin. —Katrina Cossey, Parents, 16 Sep. 2025

The Pets Room features more domestic animals in a park and home environment—dogs and cats, a bearded dragon and goldfish. —Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 2025

The 10 Courts of Hell were once located in the belly of a giant dragon that visitors would ride boats into, passing scenes from the underworld along the way. —Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025

Komodo, Indonesia Most travelers equate Komodo in the Indonesian archipelago with its fierce dragons, the world’s largest living lizards. —Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French dragun, from Latin dracon-, draco serpent, dragon, from Greek drakōn serpent; akin to Old English torht bright, Greek derkesthai to see, look at

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dragon

• dragon fruit
• dragon lady
• dragon's blood
• dragon's teeth
• green dragon
• Komodo dragon

Rhymes for dragon

• agone
• lagan
• waggon
• wagon
• anlagen
• bandwagon
• snapdragon

Kids Definition

dragon

noun

drag·​on ˈdrag-ən 

1

: an imaginary animal usually pictured as a huge serpent or lizard with wings and large claws

2

capitalized : draco

Etymology

Middle English dragon "dragon," from early French dragun (same meaning), from Latin dracon-, draco "serpent, dragon," from Greek drakōn "serpent" — related to rankle