shamrock

American  

[sham-rok] / ˈʃæm rɒk /

noun

1. any of several trifoliate plants, as the wood sorrel, Oxalis acetosella, or a small, pink-flowered clover, Trifolium repens minus, but especially Trifolium procumbens, a small, yellow-flowered clover: a symbol of Ireland.

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shamrock British  

/ ˈʃæmˌrɒk /

noun

1. a plant having leaves divided into three leaflets, variously identified as the wood sorrel, red clover, white clover, and black medick: the national emblem of Ireland

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Etymology

Origin of shamrock

1565–75; < Irish seamróg, equivalent to seamair clover + -óg diminutive suffix

Compare meaning

How does shamrock compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• shamrock vs. clover

Example Sentences

Among England's Tudor rose, Scotland's thistle, the Welsh leek and the Irish shamrock are the Canadian maple leaf and India's lotus flower.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

But such information would only have puzzled Trump and complicated the shamrock bonhomie, and Vance — a Roman Catholic convert, after all — beamed in silence from the sofa.

From Salon • Mar. 16, 2025

It is believed he used shamrock to explain the idea of the Holy Trinity to pagans, which is why the clover has become synonymous with St Patrick's Day celebrations.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2024

A popular sight around the holiday is the shamrock, or three-leaf clover, linked to Ireland and St. Patrick.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 15, 2024

Harry looked quickly over the top of his Omnioculars and saw that the leprechauns watching from the sidelines had all risen into the air again and formed the great, glittering shamrock.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling