dragonfly

noun

drag·on·fly | \ ˈdra-gən-ˌflī

Definition of dragonfly

: 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

Examples of dragonfly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web It is overlooked by an impressive eight-foot dragonfly sculpture. — courant.com, 7 May 2021 When in flight, Ingenuity’s shadow gives the impression of an oversized, four-winged dragonfly. — Amina Khan Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2021 Her dragonfly earrings, meanwhile, are by Laguna Pueblo metalsmith Pat Pruitt, who carves out intricate designs from materials such as zirconium, titanium, and stainless steel. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2021 That’s the size of Meganeura, Whitfield points out, one of the largest members of a dragonfly-like family called griffinflies that thrived around 300 million years ago. — Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2020 Before reunification Frobel would come here to count the green snaketails, a rare dragonfly, and a freshwater pearl mussel. — Christopher F. Schuetze New York Times, Star Tribune, 2 Oct. 2020 Andrew Fusek Peters took the images of the emerald damselfly and a female black darter dragonfly on Sept. 29, British news agency SWNS reports. — Chris Ciaccia, Fox News, 1 Oct. 2020 In addition to animal sightings, the Wetland Loop is known for butterfly and dragonfly sightings. — Briana Rice, The Enquirer, 20 Aug. 2020 While land bugs were dwindling, freshwater insects, such as mayflies, dragonflies and mosquitoes, are increasing at more than 1 percent a year, the study found. — NBC News, 24 Apr. 2020

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