magnolia

noun

mag·​no·​lia mag-ˈnōl-yə 

: any of a genus (Magnolia of the family Magnoliaceae, the magnolia family) of American and Asian shrubs and trees with entire evergreen or deciduous leaves and usually showy white, yellow, rose, or purple flowers usually appearing in early spring

Illustration of magnolia

Examples of magnolia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Trails meander past the butterfly garden, under a canopy of southern magnolias and hardwoods, and over a mix of boardwalks, dirt paths, and concrete walkways. —Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026

Steel magnolias or Southern-favorite camellias—in the battle of who’s tougher, the jury is out. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026

If her name sounds familiar to Landman fans, that’s because Sheridan, a friend of the Goffs, apparently borrowed it for the steel magnolia of an oil wife, played by Demi Moore. —Sarah Hepola, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026

Outdoors, the magnolias, camellias and winter roses are blooming, along with the first of spring’s showy daffodils, and the hiking trails are open. —Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Pierre Magnol †1715 French botanist

First Known Use

1739, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

magnolia

noun

mag·​no·​lia mag-ˈnōl-yə 

: any of a genus of North American and Asian trees or tall shrubs having usually showy white, yellow, rose, or purple flowers that appear before or sometimes with the leaves in the spring

Medical Definition

magnolia

noun

mag·​no·​lia mag-ˈnōl-yə 

1

capitalized : a genus (family Magnoliaceae, the magnolia family) of North American and Asian shrubs and trees including some whose bark has been used especially as a bitter tonic and diaphoretic in folk medicine

2

a

: any shrub or tree of the genus Magnolia

b

: the dried bark of a magnolia