monarch butterfly

American  

[mon-erk buht-er-flahy, mon-ahrk] / ˈmɒn ərk ˌbʌt ərˌflaɪ, ˈmɒn ɑrk /

noun

monarch butterflies plural

1. a large, deep-orange butterfly, Danaus plexippus, having black and white markings, the larvae of which feed on the leaves of milkweed: highly valued as a pollinator, the monarch butterfly is currently not evaluated by the IUCN, but the protection of the species and its habitat is central to several conservation efforts.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• monarch butterflies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of monarch butterfly

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

monarch butterfly

Roswell residents know how to have fun, and the city hosts all kinds of annual festivals ranging from a summertime ice cream social and monarch butterfly celebration to outdoor movies.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2025

The monarch butterfly was first petitioned to be listed under the federal Endangered Species Act in 2014, but that effort was shelved due to more urgent population priorities.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 31, 2025

In North America, the monarch butterfly population fell by 90% in the last 20 years.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 10, 2024

Or makeup artist Monste Ribé, nominated for “Society of the Snow,” whose gown seemed crafted of monarch butterfly wings.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 10, 2024

I can’t decide if she had pissed off her hairdresser or is morphing into a monarch butterfly.

From "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson