shamrock

noun

sham·​rock ˈsham-ˌräk How to pronounce shamrock (audio)
: a trifoliolate plant used as a floral emblem by the Irish: such as
a
: a yellow-flowered Old World clover (Trifolium dubium) often regarded as the true shamrock

Examples of shamrock 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.
Queens coach Grant Leonard, known for his holiday sweaters, wore a green one decorated with the American flag and shamrocks, but the Royals’ luck ran out. Charlotte Observer, 21 Mar. 2026 Still, the rich history behind the day of laughter and libations remains behind the surge of shamrocks and drunken shanties. Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026 The princess presented each of them with sprigs of shamrock and gave Séamus a few friendly scratches on the head. Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026 Beyond its religious roots, the holiday has evolved into a global celebration of Irish culture, marked by everything from shamrocks and leprechauns to corned beef and a spirited round (or two) of green beer. Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shamrock

Word History

Etymology

Irish seamróg, diminutive of seamar clover

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shamrock was in 1577

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Cite this Entry

“Shamrock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shamrock. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

shamrock

noun
sham·​rock ˈsham-ˌräk How to pronounce shamrock (audio)
: a plant of folk legend with leaves composed of three leaflets that is associated with St. Patrick and Ireland
also : any of several plants (as a clover or a wood sorrel) or their leaves that resemble, are worn to represent, or are held to be the shamrock of legend
Etymology

from Irish seamróg, literally, "little clover"

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