magnolia

noun

mag·​no·​lia mag-ˈnōl-yə 

: any of a genus (Magnolia of the family Magnoliaceae, the magnolia family) of American and Asian shrubs and trees with entire evergreen or deciduous leaves and usually showy white, yellow, rose, or purple flowers usually appearing in early spring

Illustration of magnolia

Examples of magnolia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Also plant pest-resistant crops like boxwood, hollies, common lilac, magnolia, hemlock, holly, oak, tulip tree, and sweet gum. —Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 June 2026

Not all the plants survived, partly because half the garden is shaded by a large magnolia tree on the parking strip. —Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026

Along with its 13-acre legacy vineyard growing its iconic red wine grape — cabernet sauvignon — the garden holds over 50 species of Asian magnolias, ranging from large trees to medium shrubs. —Kalpana Mohan, Mercury News, 8 June 2026

Do not skip the ghindara no saikyo-yaki—a fillet of black cod marinated for 72 hours and cooked in sake, and wrapped in a Japanese magnolia leaf. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Pierre Magnol †1715 French botanist

First Known Use

1739, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

magnolia

noun

mag·​no·​lia mag-ˈnōl-yə 

: any of a genus of North American and Asian trees or tall shrubs having usually showy white, yellow, rose, or purple flowers that appear before or sometimes with the leaves in the spring

Medical Definition

magnolia

noun

mag·​no·​lia mag-ˈnōl-yə 

1

capitalized : a genus (family Magnoliaceae, the magnolia family) of North American and Asian shrubs and trees including some whose bark has been used especially as a bitter tonic and diaphoretic in folk medicine

2

a

: any shrub or tree of the genus Magnolia

b

: the dried bark of a magnolia