fleabane

noun

flea·​bane ˈflē-ˌbān How to pronounce fleabane (audio)
: any of various composite plants (especially of the genus Erigeron) that were once believed to drive away fleas

Examples of fleabane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In early summer, look to the alpine meadows of Flagstaff and the White Mountains adorned with fleabane, blue flax, paintbrush, columbine and more. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2024 The Xerces Society has created a list of monarch nectar plants for Southern California that includes drought-tolerant natives attractive to many butterflies, such as black sage, bluedicks, sunflowers, seaside fleabane and the dainty fairy-cap flowers of manzanita. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2021 Among the tall leggy sunflowers, look for thistle, globemallow and fleabane. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2022 Khumalo collaborated with local Cape Town artist Shakil Solanki on a series of prints that depict cotton and a type of wildflower called Philadelphia fleabane. Brooke Bobb, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2020 Early South Florida settlers stuffed oakleaf fleabane, a tiny lavender wildflower, into their mattresses to ward off fleas. Jenny Staletovich, miamiherald, 4 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fleabane.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fleabane was in 1548

Dictionary Entries Near fleabane

Cite this Entry

“Fleabane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fleabane. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fleabane

noun
flea·​bane ˈflē-ˌbān How to pronounce fleabane (audio)
: any of various plants related to the daisies

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