dragon

noun

drag·​on ˈdra-gən 

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

ˈdra-gə-nish 

adjective

Examples of dragon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is the ground and the grass that has seen dragons and dragon fire before. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025

Images of mythical creatures — goblins, dragons, flying horses — flash behind her. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025

Our 8-year-old tester—who happens to be a devoted fan of the Ninjago series—was enthralled by the dragon’s cool features. —Pamela Brill, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025

Otherworld, a home to undead hordes and a lightning-hurling dragon, evokes the colors and landscapes of the real world. —Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dragon

• dragon fruit
• dragon lady
• dragon's blood
• dragon's teeth
• green dragon
• Komodo dragon

Rhymes for dragon

• agone
• lagan
• waggon
• wagon
• anlagen
• bandwagon
• snapdragon

Kids Definition

dragon

noun

drag·​on ˈdrag-ən 

1

: an imaginary animal usually pictured as a huge serpent or lizard with wings and large claws

2

capitalized : draco

Etymology

Middle English dragon "dragon," from early French dragun (same meaning), from Latin dracon-, draco "serpent, dragon," from Greek drakōn "serpent" — related to rankle