milkweed butterfly

noun

: any of a family (Danaidae) or nymphalid subfamily (Danaine) of large butterflies feeding on plants of the milkweed family as larvae
especially : monarch butterfly

Examples of milkweed 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.
In the summertime, the park is a fantastic location to observe milkweed butterflies. Smithsonian, 6 June 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of milkweed butterfly was in 1880

Dictionary Entries Near milkweed butterfly

Cite this Entry

“Milkweed butterfly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/milkweed%20butterfly. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on milkweed butterfly

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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