snapdragon

noun

snap·​drag·​on ˈsnap-ˌdra-gən How to pronounce snapdragon (audio)
: any of a genus (Antirrhinum of the family Plantaginaceae, the plantain family) of herbs having showy bilabiate flowers
especially : a widely cultivated one (A. majus) of Mediterranean origin having usually pink, red, yellow, or white flowers

Illustration of snapdragon

Illustration of snapdragon

Examples of snapdragon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The couple were installed in a spacious villa, surrounded by gardens planted with bougainvillea and snapdragons. Heidi Blake, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024 The two-lipped flowers resemble snapdragons and are self-cleaning, providing months of blooms with little work. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 July 2024 The bouquet has 15 stems with a variety of blooms and greens, including roses, snapdragons, poppies, and daisies. Phoebe Sklansky, Parents, 1 July 2024 Build these artificial flowers that range from roses, poppies, daises and snapdragons to add to your favorite vessel. Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 11 Oct. 2023 See all Example Sentences for snapdragon 

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

Word History

Etymology

from the fancied resemblance of the flowers to the face of a dragon

First Known Use

1573, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of snapdragon was in 1573

Dictionary Entries Near snapdragon

Cite this Entry

“Snapdragon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snapdragon. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

snapdragon

noun
snap·​drag·​on ˈsnap-ˌdrag-ən How to pronounce snapdragon (audio)
: a widely grown herb having showy usually pink, red, white, or yellow two-lipped flowers

More from Merriam-Webster on snapdragon

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