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

In the meantime, Earley said, the magnolia tree will be replaced, but not the bench. —Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2025

Fairy magnolias are hardy in USDA zones 7-11 and might need winter protection at the lower end of their zone range. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2025

Every repeat stroll through the halls revealed a new artful detail, many by Shanghainese creatives, like the foyer’s lacquered painting of magnolias. —Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025

Think notes of eucalyptus leaf, wet wood, and magnolia. —Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 17 June 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