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

Examples of monarch butterfly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Few pollinators bring more beauty to the garden than the monarch butterfly. —Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 3 Apr. 2026

Part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, the hotel was created as a love letter to the monarch butterfly's typical migration through the city. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026

Booth visitors will be able to smell and look at plants from the Theodore Payne Foundation and learn how native plants can not only save water but also support local wildlife such as bees, birds and monarch butterflies. —Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026

Programs like the University of Illinois Chicago’s nationwide agreements for monarch butterflies and bumblebees help companies reduce regulatory delays and help conserve endangered and declining species at the same time. —Dan Salas, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for monarch butterfly

• canaliculi
• dwi
• micronuclei
• oversimplify
• abscissae
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify

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