dandelion

noun

dan·​de·​li·​on ˈdan-də-ˌlī-ən How to pronounce dandelion (audio)
-dē-
: any of a genus (Taraxacum) of yellow-flowered composite herbs with milky sap
especially : one (T. officinale) sometimes grown as a potherb and nearly cosmopolitan as a weed

Illustration of dandelion

Illustration of dandelion

Examples of dandelion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These are among the hardest weeds to manage and include plants like plantain, dandelion, and nutsedge. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 14 June 2026 Even little flowering dandelions in a bud vase add beauty. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 23 June 2026 Pouring boiling water on dandelions is sometimes suggested as a control measure. — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2026 Guitar strums peak through the mix like fresh blades of grass and sweeping drums gently carry the songs forward, while Lenae sounds sweeter than ever, her airy vocals chasing the wind like white dandelion puffs. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dandelion

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dendelyoun, from Anglo-French dent de lion, literally, lion's tooth

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dandelion was in the 14th century

Rhymes for dandelion

See All Rhymes for dandelion

Browse Nearby Words

dand
dandelion
dandelion coffee
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dandelion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dandelion. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

dandelion

noun
dan·​de·​li·​on ˈdan-də-ˌlī-ən How to pronounce dandelion (audio)
: any of a genus of yellow-flowered weedy plants related to the daisies
especially : one with long deeply toothed stemless leaves sometimes grown as a potherb
Etymology

from early French dent de lion "dandelion," literally, "tooth of the lion"; dent derived from Latin dens "tooth" — related to dental

Word Origin
Sometimes plants are named for their resemblance, real or imagined, to animal shapes. The dandelion might not be a plant we would be quick to connect with a lion's teeth. And yet, in early French this common plant with its yellow flowers was called dent de lion, meaning literally "tooth of the lion." The dandelion leaves have deep notches along the edges. These make the leaves appear to have a row of sharp triangular teeth. In time the French name came to be spelled and pronounced as one word when it came into English, giving us dandelion today.

Medical Definition

dandelion

noun
dan·​de·​li·​on ˈdan-dᵊl-ˌī-ən How to pronounce dandelion (audio)
: any plant of the genus Taraxacum
especially : an herb (T. officinale) sometimes grown as a potherb and nearly cosmopolitan as a weed

More from Merriam-Webster on dandelion

Nglish: Translation of dandelion for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dandelion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All