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

But those clumps hanging off branches and blanketing tree trunks are actually millions of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), huddled for warmth in one of Mexico’s famous overwintering sites. —Liz Lindqwister, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 July 2024

So plant some milkweed to help the monarch butterfly—and to get a bumper crop from your vegetable garden. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 June 2024

The work to attract the pollinators paid off: Last year, monarch butterflies started appearing en masse as the flowers bloomed. —Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 26 June 2024

Attention Tennesseans: The Tennessee Department of Transportation is giving away 350,000 packets of milkweed seeds to help monarch butterflies thrive in the Volunteer State. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 21 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

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