belladonna

noun

bel·​la·​don·​na ˌbe-lə-ˈdä-nə How to pronounce belladonna (audio)
1
: an Old World poisonous plant (Atropa belladonna) of the nightshade family having purple or green bell-shaped flowers, glossy black berries, and root and leaves that yield atropine

called also deadly nightshade

2
: a medicinal extract (such as atropine) from the belladonna plant

Examples of belladonna 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.
The painting depicts a red amaryllis belladonna, otherwise known as a March lily, blooming in a plant pot situated on a table against a dark backdrop. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Or will self-medication with belladonna spell the end, for real this time? — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026 Besides its toxicity, belladonna isn’t a particularly unique or attractive-looking shrub; the foliage, blossoms, and berries are all somewhat nondescript. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 7 June 2026 This [Poisonous plant rumored to have killed the emperor Augustus] is BELLADONNA, short for its Latin name, Atropa belladonna. — Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 26 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for belladonna

Word History

Etymology

Italian, literally, beautiful lady

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of belladonna was in 1597

Phrases Containing belladonna

Rhymes for belladonna

See All Rhymes for belladonna

Browse Nearby Words

Bella Coola
belladonna
belladonna lily
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Belladonna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/belladonna. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

belladonna

noun
bel·​la·​don·​na ˌbel-ə-ˈdän-ə How to pronounce belladonna (audio)
1
: a European poisonous herb of the nightshade family with purple or green bell-shaped flowers, glossy black berries, and a root and leaves that are a source of atropine

called also deadly nightshade

2
: a drug or extract from the belladonna
Etymology

from Italian bella donna, literally, "beautiful lady"; so called because the extract was formerly used in cosmetics

Medical Definition

belladonna

noun
bel·​la·​don·​na ˌbel-ə-ˈdän-ə How to pronounce belladonna (audio)
1
: an Old World poisonous plant of the genus Atropa (A. belladonna) having purple or green flowers, glossy black berries, and a root and leaves that yield atropine

called also deadly nightshade

2
: a medicinal preparation (as atropine) extracted from the belladonna plant and containing anticholinergic alkaloids

More from Merriam-Webster on belladonna

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about belladonna

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