dragonfly

noun

drag·​on·​fly ˈdra-gən-ˌflī 

: any of a suborder (Anisoptera) of odonate insects that are larger and stouter than damselflies, hold the wings horizontal in repose, and have rectal gills during the naiad stage

broadly : odonate

Illustration of dragonfly

Examples of dragonfly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The chipmunks teamed with an Australian mouse named Monterey Jack, his dragonfly pal Zipper, and the team’s mechanic, Gadget Hackwrench, to battle such villainous characters as Fat Cat and Professor Norton Nimnul. —Will Harris, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025

Encourage mosquito predators in your yard, including fish, dragonflies, fronts, birds and bats. —Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025

At Maire Nui Gardens, frangipani and hibiscus spill over lava rock paths, and dragonflies skim lily ponds. —Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025

So are the deer, turkeys, skunks, crickets, spiders, ticks, bats, dragonflies, and ospreys. —Eric Lach, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

dragonfly

noun

drag·​on·​fly -ˌflī 

: any of a group of large harmless insects that have four long wings held horizontal and sticking out instead of folded to the side next to the body when at rest and that feed especially on flies, gnats, and mosquitoes compare damselfly