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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
Examples of monarch butterfly in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The plight of the monarch butterfly is an opportunity to seriously reexamine the role of pesticides in biodiversity loss.
—Sharmeen Morrison, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2025
For generations, monarch butterflies have traveled thousands of miles across North America in remarkable, long-distance migrations.
—Gayoung Lee, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Dec. 2024
Report monarch butterfly sightings JourneyNorth is encouraging people to report monarch sightings on its website.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 10 Dec. 2024
The Biden administration is proposing protections for the monarch butterfly – though the protections face an uncertain future in the incoming Trump administration.
—Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 10 Dec. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1890, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of monarch butterfly was
in 1890
Dictionary Entries Near monarch butterfly
Cite this Entry
“Monarch butterfly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monarch%20butterfly. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
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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