dragon

noun drag·on \ ˈdra-gən \

|Updated on: 17 Jul 2018

Definition of dragon

1 archaic : a huge serpent

2 : a mythical animal usually represented as a monstrous winged and scaly serpent or saurian with a crested head and enormous claws

3 : a violent, combative, or very strict person

4 capitalized : draco

5 : something or someone formidable or baneful

—

dragonish

play \-gə-nish\ adjective

See dragon defined for English-language learners

See dragon defined for kids

Recent Examples of dragon from the Web

He was born in San Francisco in 1940, during the hour and year of the dragon, while his father was touring the U.S. with an opera company.

— jeff baker, The Seattle Times, "‘Bruce Lee: A Life’: a remarkable life, from Seattle to Hong Kong," 26 June 2018
Albert studies a dragon on the side of the door that depicts Ch.

— katy moeller, idahostatesman, "Father Faucher's fall from grace: Once a respected priest, now he holds Mass in jail," 4 June 2018
Isabella Baca came in second place for her drawing of a dragon.

— elizabeth marie himchak, Rancho Bernardo, "Chalk artists share their talents, win prizes," 11 May 2018
Kate also told the tots that Prince George wouldn't have been too keen on the gigantic dragon looming in the Magic Garden in Hampton Court Palace.

— brie schwartz, Redbook, "Very Important: The Royal Family Has a Pet Hamster and His Name Is So Cute it Physically Hurts," 4 May 2016
Their idyll is soon interrupted by the arrival of an army of fierce mechanical dragons, flown by soldiers under the command of the handsome Izor.

— deborah young, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms': Film Review | Shanghai 2018," 27 June 2018
Shepherd’s pie, turkey drumsticks, dragon tails and pasties.

— sheryl devore, Lake County News-Sun, "Take a day trip to the past at Bristol Renaissance Faire," 25 June 2018
Named after another dragon, the Wyvern is what Sabrewing hopes Alaskans will eventually be very familiar with.

— author: elwood brehmer, Anchorage Daily News, "Startup plans to revolutionize the air cargo industry, starting with Alaska," 15 June 2018
The golden lizard Liolaemus smaug was named after the fearsome, treasure-loving dragon that Bilbo helps defeat in The Hobbit.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Introducing a Hairy-Footed Shrimp Named After Bilbo Baggins," 13 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dragon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of dragon

Middle English, from Anglo-French dragun, from Latin dracon-, draco serpent, dragon, from Greek drakōn serpent; akin to Old English torht bright, Greek derkesthai to see, look at

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year