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

Dragon : draco

5

: something or someone formidable or baneful

dragonish

ˈdra-gə-nish 

adjective

Examples of dragon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Boston City Hall helped kick off Lunar New Year celebrations Sunday with dragon and lion dances, music and more, a celebration the city will continue with a number of events and activities to ring in the Year of the Horse over the coming weeks. —Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 16 Feb. 2026

The brand’s bestsellers are pieces featuring auspicious symbols, including a soaring dragon atop a sacred leaf, imperial lanterns, and the gourd, a potent symbol of good fortune. —Denni Hu, Footwear News, 12 Feb. 2026

Will's teammates include rhino dad Archie (David Harbour), weirdo Komodo dragon Modo (Nick Kroll) and speedy ostrich Olivia (Nicola Coughlan). —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026

There are dragons in Preston Hollow. —Mark Lamster architecture Critic, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026

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