king cobra

noun

: a large cobra (Ophiophagus hannah synonym Naja hannah) of southeastern Asia and the Philippines that may attain a length of 18 feet (5.5 meters)

Illustration of king cobra

Examples of king cobra in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After a crash-course with the masters, Blaine attempts a few stunts on his own — including covering himself in scorpions, inserting a knife up one nostril and kissing a king cobra on its head. —Jenelle Riley, Variety, 22 Mar. 2025

An attention-seeking king cobra interrupted a Thai man's TV time. —Kelli Bender, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025

Kim Kardashian called Swift a snake on social media and the singer turned it into — at the time — a record breaking tour complete with a gigantic king cobra stage prop. —Bryan West, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025

Today, the king cobra remains a powerful symbol of the natural world’s majesty and fragility. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

king cobra

noun

: a large very poisonous snake of southeastern Asia and the Philippines

Medical Definition

king cobra

noun

king co·​bra ˈkiŋ-ˈkō-brə 

: a large and very venomous cobra of the genus Ophiophagus (O. hannah synonym Naja hannah) of southeastern Asia and the Philippines that may attain a length of 18 feet (5.5 meters)

called also hamadryad