sulphur butterfly

noun

: any of numerous butterflies (especially Colias and related genera of the family Pieridae) having the wings usually yellow or orange with a black border

called also sulphur

Examples of sulphur butterfly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web As for the birds, the video below depicts a false-color birds-eye view of three male orange sulphur butterflies. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 23 Jan. 2024 Ernie Cowan’s Outdoors column Like a dancing splash of sunlight, the bright yellow sulphur butterfly darted from plant to plant, reminding me that spring is just around the corner. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2023 There was a cherry on top: A sulphur butterfly landed on me. Bulletin Board, Twin Cities, 4 Aug. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sulphur butterfly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sulphur butterfly was in 1879

Dictionary Entries Near sulphur butterfly

Cite this Entry

“Sulphur butterfly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sulphur%20butterfly. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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