magnolia

noun

mag·​no·​lia mag-ˈnōl-yə 

: any of a genus (Magnolia of the family Magnoliaceae, the magnolia family) of American and Asian shrubs and trees with entire evergreen or deciduous leaves and usually showy white, yellow, rose, or purple flowers usually appearing in early spring

Illustration of magnolia

Examples of magnolia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Versace Bright Crystal Eau De Toilette Spray: on sale for $48.99 (56% off) Original price: $110 Versace Bright Crystal Eau De Toilette Spray is the perfect spring fragrance that puts off distinctly feminine notes of peony, lotus and magnolia. —Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025

With a big emphasis on their ability to provide some shade in the park, the city selected five peppermint trees and six magnolias. —Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025

In my experience, one season of treatment typically eradicates magnolia scale — but 2025 may be an exception. —Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025

At the heart, a bouquet of roses, magnolia and jasmine. —Bianca Salonga, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Pierre Magnol †1715 French botanist

First Known Use

1739, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

magnolia

noun

mag·​no·​lia mag-ˈnōl-yə 

: any of a genus of North American and Asian trees or tall shrubs having usually showy white, yellow, rose, or purple flowers that appear before or sometimes with the leaves in the spring

Medical Definition

magnolia

noun

mag·​no·​lia mag-ˈnōl-yə 

1

capitalized : a genus (family Magnoliaceae, the magnolia family) of North American and Asian shrubs and trees including some whose bark has been used especially as a bitter tonic and diaphoretic in folk medicine

2

a

: any shrub or tree of the genus Magnolia

b

: the dried bark of a magnolia