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

In the film, little Rory needs to save her father who’s disappeared on a treasure quest during an unfortunate encounter with a dragon. —Marta Balaga, Variety, 8 Nov. 2025

The dragon of a lack of knowledge and interest from the general public. —Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Nov. 2025

To me, the boy inside the dragon who wants to get out of the dragon skin and cannot figure out how to get out — that is a really powerful image. —Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025

How to Train Your Dragon is about dragons, not the guy training them. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 3 Nov. 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