sulphur butterfly

noun

: any of numerous butterflies (especially Colias and related genera of the family Pieridae) having the wings usually yellow or orange with a black border

called also sulphur

Examples of sulphur 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.
As for the birds, the video below depicts a false-color birds-eye view of three male orange sulphur butterflies. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 23 Jan. 2024 Ernie Cowan’s Outdoors column Like a dancing splash of sunlight, the bright yellow sulphur butterfly darted from plant to plant, reminding me that spring is just around the corner. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2023 There was a cherry on top: A sulphur butterfly landed on me. Bulletin Board, Twin Cities, 4 Aug. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sulphur butterfly was in 1879

Dictionary Entries Near sulphur butterfly

Cite this Entry

“Sulphur butterfly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sulphur%20butterfly. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on sulphur butterfly

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!