four-leaf clover

American  

[fawr-leef, fohr-] / ˈfɔrˌlif, ˈfoʊr- /

noun

• four-leaf clovers
  plural

1. a clover leaf having four leaflets instead of the usual three, purported to bring good luck.

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four-leaf clover British  

noun

1. a clover with four leaves rather than three, supposed to bring good luck

2. another name for cloverleaf

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• four-leaf clovers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of four-leaf clover

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

four-leaf clover

Now, Lowry no longer needs a four-leaf clover in his pocket as he tries to win his first green jacket.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 12, 2026

Taking to instagram on Thursday, Anderson posted a Dior label accompanied by a four-leaf clover to confirm the news.

From BBC ● Apr. 17, 2025

She plucked a four-leaf clover as a toddler and never looked back.

From Slate ● Apr. 6, 2024

“There’s an old saying — and, Mr. President, this one is also Irish — that goes: A good friend is like a four-leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have,” Yoon said.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 26, 2023

There was a bright blue eye, a four-leaf clover covered in resin, a horseshoe.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova