milkweed

noun

milk·​weed ˈmilk-ˌwēd How to pronounce milkweed (audio)
: any of various plants that secrete latex
especially : any of a genus (Asclepias of the family Apocynaceae, the dogbane family) of erect chiefly perennial herbs with milky juice and umbellate flowers

Illustration of milkweed

Illustration of milkweed

Examples of milkweed 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.
Growing the right companion plants near milkweed can entice ladybugs, lacewings, and other beneficial insects to visit and feast on aphids. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 June 2026 How to Care for Milkweed Fortunately, milkweed isn't very high-maintenance and is relatively easy to care for. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 15 June 2026 Consider phasing out this plant and replacing it with a native alternative that is beneficial to pollinators, like milkweed. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 25 June 2026 Some of the most important pollinator plants in Connecticut include bee balm, buttonbush, columbine, geranium, goldenrod, highbush blueberry, New England aster, New Jersey tea and swamp milkweed. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for milkweed

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1592, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of milkweed was circa 1592

Phrases Containing milkweed

Rhymes for milkweed

See All Rhymes for milkweed

Browse Nearby Words

milk-warm
milkweed
milkweed bug
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

milkweed

noun
milk·​weed ˈmil-ˌkwēd How to pronounce milkweed (audio)
: any of various herbs with milky juice and flowers usually in dense clusters

Medical Definition

milkweed

noun
milk·​weed ˈmilk-ˌwēd How to pronounce milkweed (audio)
: any of various plants that secrete latex
especially : any plant of the genus Asclepias (family Asclepiadaceae, the milkweed family) including several whose dried roots were formerly used medicinally

More from Merriam-Webster on milkweed

Nglish: Translation of milkweed for Spanish Speakers

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