sago palm

noun

: a plant that yields sago: such as
a
: any of various large pinnate-leaved palms (genus Metroxylon) of tropical southeastern Asia and especially one (M. sagu) that is the main source of commercially-produced sago
b
: a cycad (Cycas revoluta) of subtropical Japan with palmlike fronds that is often grown in warm regions as an ornamental plant and has leaves and seeds toxic especially to animals

Examples of sago palm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web All parts of the sago palm are toxic to pets, but the berries are the most inviting to dogs. Sara Okeefe, The Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2024 Despite the common name, sago palm is actually a cycad and produces cones instead of flowers. Marissa Wu, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2024 Among those special single specimen plants, most installed near the house, are several prehistoric and unusual plant varieties, including the sago palm; cycads, including Dioon, Encephalartos and Zamia; and the Queensland bottle tree. Nicole Sours Larson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2023 What is happening to my sago palm? Neil Sperry, San Antonio Express-News, 23 Sep. 2022 At the time, their front yard was a very green lawn with Indian hawthorn shrubs under the windows and a sago palm in one corner by the sidewalk. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2023 This is a sago palm, not a true palm, but a lookalike, also known as a Cycad. Neil Sperry, San Antonio Express-News, 11 June 2021 Some plants to avoid are calla lily, sago palm, azalea and rhododendron, among others. Star Tribune, 28 May 2021 Maisy and Murphy started receiving treatments to combat the effects of the sago palm less than two hours after ingesting the plant's seeds. Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 28 Apr. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sago palm.' 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

1769, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sago palm was in 1769

Dictionary Entries Near sago palm

Cite this Entry

“Sago palm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sago%20palm. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

sago palm

noun
: a palm or cycad that yields sago
especially : any of various tall tropical palms that have leaves with numerous leaflets

Medical Definition

sago palm

noun
: a plant that yields sago
especially : any of various lofty pinnate-leaved Malaysian palms (genus Metroxylon)

More from Merriam-Webster on sago palm

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!