coral snake

noun

1

: any of several venomous chiefly tropical New World elapid snakes (genera Micrurus and Micruroides) brilliantly banded in red, black, and yellow or white that include two (Micrurus fulvius and Micruroides euryxanthus) ranging northward into the southern U.S.

2

: any of several harmless snakes resembling the coral snakes

Examples of coral snake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This family of about 400 species includes coral snakes, cobras, and mambas and is considered medically important since their bites can destroy tissue, cause the heart to collapse, induce blindness, and more. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 19 Sep. 2024

In the Southeast, there are several venomous snakes that could potentially cause an injury to a human or pet: three species of rattlesnakes (eastern diamondback, timber, and pygmy), copperhead, cotton mouth (also known as water moccasins), and coral snake, says Maerz. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2024

For the Eastern coral snake, the red bands touch yellow bands. —Cole Sikes Communications and Marketing Specialist Alabama Cooperative Extension System, al, 25 Apr. 2023

While Costa Rica has about 600 fer-de-lance viper bites every year, for example, only about three to five bites come from coral snakes. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1772, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

coral snake

noun

: any of several poisonous chiefly tropical New World snakes brilliantly banded in red, black, and yellow or white

also : any of several harmless snakes resembling the coral snakes

Medical Definition

coral snake

noun

ˈkȯr-əl-, ˈkär- 

: any of several venomous chiefly tropical New World elapid snakes of the genus Micrurus that are brilliantly banded in red, black, and yellow or white and include two (M. fulvius and M. euryxanthus) ranging northward into the southern United States