swallowtail

noun

swal·​low·​tail ˈswä-lō-ˌtāl 

-lə-

1

: a deeply forked and tapering tail (as of a swallow)

2

: tailcoat

3

: any of various usually large brightly marked butterflies (family Papilionidae, especially genus Papilio) with each hind wing typically having an elongated process

swallow-tailed

ˈswä-lō-ˌtāld 

-lə-

adjective

Illustration of swallowtail

• swallowtail 3

Examples of swallowtail in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Numerous pollinators frequent the blooms and plants serve as host to two species of swallowtail butterfly. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026

This shrub, which is native to the eastern and central United States, is a key host plant for the larvae of the spicebush swallowtail butterfly. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Feb. 2026

The Joyce Carter Butterfly Garden alone hosts 32 species, including giant swallowtails, monarchs, buckeyes, spicebush, cabbage whites, cloudless sulfurs, and black swallowtails. —Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026

There is hope implied in this: a wormy caterpillar can turn one day into a flitting swallowtail, a modest nymph into a dragon-like salamander. —Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing swallowtail

• black swallowtail
• tiger swallowtail

Rhymes for swallowtail

• abigail
• cottontail
• countervail
• fingernail
• martingale
• mesoscale
• microscale
• monorail
• nanoscale
• ponytail
• wensleydale
• yellowtail

Kids Definition

swallowtail

noun

swal·​low·​tail ˈswäl-ō-ˌtāl 

1

: a deeply forked and tapering tail (as of a swallow)

2

: any of various usually large butterflies in which the hind wing is elongated into a process that resembles a tail

swallow-tailed

ˌswäl-ō-ˈtāld

adjective