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.
Future Live Migrations productions are planned around the journeys of sandhill cranes, whales, wildebeest and monarch butterflies. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026 Future Live Migrations streams will follow sandhill cranes, whales, wildebeest and monarch butterflies along their journeys. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026 Watch thousands of migrating monarch butterflies make their winter home in the trees of Pismo State Beach. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026 There are both migratory and non-migratory populations, and the migratory monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus plexippus) was listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List in 2022. — Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 13 Aug. 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

See All Rhymes for monarch butterfly

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 1 Sep. 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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