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monarch butterfly
noun
: a large migratory American butterfly (Danaus plexippus) that has orange-brown wings with black veins and borders and a larva that feeds on milkweed
Examples of monarch butterfly in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 2014, wildlife groups petitioned FWS to protect the monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act.
—Nathan Rott, NPR, 19 Nov. 2024
Peter Frick-Wright (Host): Hey everybody, this is part two of our series on the people standing up for monarch butterflies.
—Outside Online, 2 Oct. 2024
Head to Reedy Creek Nature Center to celebrate monarch butterflies, plus enjoy giveaways and arts and crafts.
—Alexis Clinton, Axios, 26 Sep. 2024
Natural Habitat Adventure’s Kingdom of the Monarchs is an amazing 6-day tour that takes you on a journey to a secluded mountaintop forest to spot myriad monarch butterflies taking to the skies in a mesmerizing spectacle (they have even been known to land on lucky onlookers).
—Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1890, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of monarch butterfly was
in 1890
Dictionary Entries Near monarch butterfly
Cite this Entry
“Monarch butterfly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monarch%20butterfly. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
monarch butterfly
noun
: a large orange and black American butterfly that migrates in large numbers in the spring and fall and whose larva feeds on milkweed
More from Merriam-Webster on monarch butterfly
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about monarch butterfly
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