butterwort
noun
but·ter·wort
ˈbə-tər-ˌwərt 
-ˌwȯrt
: any of a genus (Pinguicula) of herbs of the bladderwort family with fleshy leaves that produce a viscid secretion serving to capture and digest insects
Examples of butterwort in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The seemingly unconquerable fig butterwort (Ficaria verna) invades lowland valleys where seasonal floods carry little broken off bits downstream to sprout anywhere and everywhere.
—
Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 15 Aug. 2025
The peat is fed by a decaying layer of sphagnum moss, sundew, and butterwort, which deepens a millimeter a year.
—Aaron Hicklin, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2024
Lesser known than other carnivorous plants, the butterwort is the flypaper of the carnivorous plant world.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Dec. 2021
Both species are described in a study published March 24 in the journal PhytoKeys and part of the butterworts group.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 27 Mar. 2023
The discovery of these new species triples the number of butterwort species recorded in Ecuador and the team believes that there are more new species awaiting formal scientific recognition, but finding them has been a race against time.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 27 Mar. 2023
Like other carnivorous plants, the butterwort lives in nutrient-poor soil, relying on insects to survive.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Dec. 2021
Others, like some butterwort species, line their flat leaves with sticky fluid that glues prey in place before surging in enzymes to break it down.
—Leslie Nemo, Discover Magazine, 28 Oct. 2020
But in a departure from many other carnivorous plants, the butterwort’s method of trapping prey is more passive than some other carnivorous plants.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Dec. 2021
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.
Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 15 Aug. 2025
The peat is fed by a decaying layer of sphagnum moss, sundew, and butterwort, which deepens a millimeter a year.
—Aaron Hicklin, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2024
Lesser known than other carnivorous plants, the butterwort is the flypaper of the carnivorous plant world.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Dec. 2021
Both species are described in a study published March 24 in the journal PhytoKeys and part of the butterworts group.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 27 Mar. 2023
The discovery of these new species triples the number of butterwort species recorded in Ecuador and the team believes that there are more new species awaiting formal scientific recognition, but finding them has been a race against time.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 27 Mar. 2023
Like other carnivorous plants, the butterwort lives in nutrient-poor soil, relying on insects to survive.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Dec. 2021
Others, like some butterwort species, line their flat leaves with sticky fluid that glues prey in place before surging in enzymes to break it down.
—Leslie Nemo, Discover Magazine, 28 Oct. 2020
But in a departure from many other carnivorous plants, the butterwort’s method of trapping prey is more passive than some other carnivorous plants.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Butterwort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butterwort. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share