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

This resort town is often lauded for its world-class golf and accommodations, but its 12 miles of uninterrupted shoreline, and the quiet oak- and magnolia-lined streets that surround them, are every bit as magical. —Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026

Some options include Japanese maples with their golden, variegated, or red leaves, flowering trees such as magnolias or dogwoods, and trees that put on a spectacle of color in the fall, such as oaks, aspens, sassafras, and hawthorns. —Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 10 Mar. 2026

Trees that bloom early, such as magnolias, may unfurl their buds too soon as a result; when cold temperatures return, frost can kill those buds, robbing you of their flowers. —David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 7 Mar. 2026

Saucer magnolias, Florida dogwoods, as well as some fruit trees such as plums, apricots, and peaches, can all experience cold injury from freezing temperatures. —Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026

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