monarch butterfly

noun

: a large migratory American butterfly (Danaus plexippus) that has orange-brown wings with black veins and borders and a larva that feeds on milkweed

Illustration of monarch butterfly

Illustration of monarch butterfly

Examples of monarch butterfly in a Sentence

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.
Council Member Kimberly Holiday pointed out that Pflugerville has a monarch butterfly sanctuary project and the rest of the council agreed the center should play up that image. Mason Rouser, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 The kits include 22 plants from 10 different species, sufficient to cover about 150 to 200 square feet, designed to support threatened insects such as monarch butterflies and native bumblebees. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025 The plant expert advises selecting plants that will attract pollinators like salvia for hummingbirds and milkweed for monarch butterflies. Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 2 June 2025 So one of the groves of trees that burned was the second-largest overwintering site for monarch butterflies in the county. Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for monarch butterfly

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of monarch butterfly was in 1890

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Monarch butterfly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monarch%20butterfly. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

monarch butterfly

noun
: a large orange and black American butterfly that migrates in large numbers in the spring and fall and whose larva feeds on milkweed

More from Merriam-Webster on monarch butterfly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!