snapdragon

noun

snap·​drag·​on ˈsnap-ˌdra-gən 

: any of a genus (Antirrhinum of the family Plantaginaceae, the plantain family) of herbs having showy tubular flowers with two-lipped coronas

especially : a widely cultivated one (A. majus) of Mediterranean origin having usually pink, red, yellow, or white flowers

Illustration of snapdragon

Examples of snapdragon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cold-hardy annual seeds like calendula, nigella, annual poppies, snapdragon, and larkspur can often be sown directly in fall to help cover the ground in spring. —Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2025

And ornamental cabbage and kale, snapdragons, sweet alyssum, and the list goes on and on. —Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2025

Other hardy fall choices include ornamental cabbage, kale, pansies, and snapdragons, black-eyed susans, coneflowers, Montauk daisies, and Japanese anemones. —Brendel Clark, Freep.com, 25 Sep. 2025

Though technically a perennial, snapdragon is treated as an annual bedding plant, with gardeners in zones 8 to 11 commonly planting it for winter color. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from the fancied resemblance of the flowers to the face of a dragon

First Known Use

1573, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for snapdragon

• anlagen
• bandwagon
• agone
• dragon
• lagan
• waggon
• wagon

Kids Definition

snapdragon

noun

snap·​drag·​on ˈsnap-ˌdrag-ən 

: a widely grown herb having showy usually pink, red, white, or yellow two-lipped flowers