campion

noun

cam·​pi·​on ˈkam-pē-ən How to pronounce campion (audio)
: any of various plants (genera Lychnis and Silene) of the pink family

Examples of campion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Duke scientists William Morris (left) and Patrick Corcoran study tiny moss campion plants in Alaska's Wrangell Mountains. Hillary Rosner, Discover Magazine, 30 July 2014 There’s not much that will kill moss campion. Hillary Rosner, Discover Magazine, 30 July 2014 Figure 2 shows the results of experiments which examine the fitness of white campion, a European species which has been introduced in North America. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 12 Aug. 2010 Another combination is nonnative rose campion Lychnis coronaria with native butterfly weed for a striking combination of bright orange and fuchsia contrasting flowers. Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5 May 2022 In Russia, scientists have regenerated reproductive tissue from unripe fruits of a narrow-leafed campion freeze-dried under the tundra for 32,000 years. New York Times, 2 Nov. 2021 The encroachment of subalpine ecosystems threatens species that have lived in formerly alpine habitats for thousands of years, including trees such as whitebark pine, flowers such as moss campion, and birds such as Clark’s nutcracker. Mara Johnson-Groh, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Aug. 2020 What lives here grows low — lichen, moss campion in purple pillows and Arctic poppies whose dish-flowers track the sun. Christopher Solomon, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2019 Poppies, campion, daisies, ragged robin, and many other native wild flowers are now on display in the famous gardens. Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, 16 July 2019

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

Word History

Etymology

probably from obsolete campion (champion)

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of campion was in 1576

Dictionary Entries Near campion

Cite this Entry

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

Biographical Definition

Campion

biographical name

Cam·​pi·​on ˈkam-pē-ən How to pronounce Campion (audio)
Thomas 1567–1620 English poet and composer

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