leprechaun

noun

lep·​re·​chaun ˈle-prə-ˌkän How to pronounce leprechaun (audio)
-ˌkȯn
: a mischievous elf (see elf sense 1) of Irish folklore usually believed to reveal the hiding place of treasure if caught
leprechaunish adjective

Examples of leprechaun in a Sentence

the story that if you follow a rainbow to its end, you'll find a leprechaun's pot of gold
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Corso has worn 69 schools’ mascot headgear and has dressed up as Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish leprechaun, the Stanford tree and historic figures James Madison and Benjamin Franklin. Joe Reedy, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025 Featuring a hostile-looking leprechaun with both fists up, as if prepared to spar, the logo was associated with the South Bend, Indiana, school as Notre Dame claimed football national championships in 1966, 1973, 1977 and 1988 and played in national title games in 2012 and again last season. Andrew Greif, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2025 Schreiber starred on the big screen in 2018's Den of Thieves and memorably played the feisty leprechaun Mad Sweeney on Starz's American Gods. Derek Lawrence, EW.com, 29 July 2025 In the United States, March 17 is typically associated with large parties and parades, green beer, Irish food and drink, and motifs like shamrocks, leprechauns, and pots of gold. Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leprechaun

Word History

Etymology

Irish leipreachán

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leprechaun was in 1604

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Leprechaun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leprechaun. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

leprechaun

noun
lep·​re·​chaun ˈlep-rə-ˌkän How to pronounce leprechaun (audio)
-ˌkȯn
: a mischievous elf of Irish folklore that some believe will reveal where treasure is hidden if caught

More from Merriam-Webster on leprechaun

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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