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

Take, for example, a dream where you're chased by a dragon. —Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025

But certain kobolds known as drakes may appear as fiery dragons, which can fly through the air like stripes in the sky. —Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025

Young children with dragons and cows painted on their small faces eagerly waited in line for kettle corn and ice cream at the many food trucks that lined the outer circle of the farm. —Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2025

Ferrara makes no bones about the catastrophic consequences of so much boozing and chasing the dragon on his personal life and finances. —Nick Pinkerton, Harpers Magazine, 24 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