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

Illustration of monarch butterfly

Illustration of monarch butterfly

Examples of monarch butterfly 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.
However, in the last 20 years, the western monarch butterfly population has experienced a steep decline. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2026 Monarch migration Oyamel fir forests are famous as the winter refuge of millions of migratory monarch butterflies. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026 Hunting is not the primary threat today to the Florida panther, the North Atlantic right whale or the monarch butterfly. — Timothy Randhir, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026 The fall monarch butterfly migration is underway and will last through November. — Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for monarch butterfly

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of monarch butterfly was in 1890

Rhymes for monarch butterfly

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Browse Nearby Words

monarchal
monarch butterfly
monarchess
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Cite this Entry

“Monarch butterfly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monarch%20butterfly. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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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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