bladderwort

noun

blad·​der·​wort ˈbla-dər-ˌwərt How to pronounce bladderwort (audio)
-ˌwȯrt
: any of a genus (Utricularia of the family Lentibulariaceae, the bladderwort family) of chiefly aquatic plants having leaves with tiny saclike structures to trap small invertebrates

Examples of bladderwort in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But flowers with pollen concealed within their petals, such as the common bladderwort, decreased their UV pigment as temperatures went up—regardless of whether ozone levels changed. Lucy Hicks, Science | AAAS, 28 Sep. 2020 As a result, the pitcher plant must draw its nitrogen from animal prey--just as other bog plants do, such as the Venus flytrap, the sundew, and the bladderwort. Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 In puddle-deep tracks next to the levees the endless squiggles of Florida bladderwort, an aquatic plant, kept looking like snakes, and weren’t. Gena Steffens, Smithsonian, 11 July 2019 The zoo will also have carnivorous plants such as Venus flytrap, pitcher plant and bladderwort. James Ewinger, cleveland.com, 24 May 2017 Throughout its evolutionary history, the bladderwort acquired its curated genetic possessions in a couple of ways. Joanna Klein, New York Times, 19 May 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bladderwort was in 1776

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bladderwort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bladderwort. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

bladderwort

noun
blad·​der·​wort -ˌwərt How to pronounce bladderwort (audio)
-ˌwȯ(ə)rt
: any of several plants growing in water or on wet shores and having insect-catching bladders on the stem

More from Merriam-Webster on bladderwort

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!