dandelion

noun

dan·​de·​li·​on ˈdan-də-ˌlī-ən How to pronounce dandelion (audio)
-dē-
: any of a genus (Taraxacum) of yellow-flowered composite herbs with milky sap
especially : one (T. officinale) sometimes grown as a potherb and nearly cosmopolitan as a weed

Illustration of dandelion

Illustration of dandelion

Examples of dandelion 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 Maren Hassinger’s hands, bits of frayed industrial wire pinned to a wall come to resemble dandelion bristles carried away by the breeze. — Carolina A. Miranda, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026 Use Weed Control Fall is a great time to kill broadleaf weeds such as dandelion or creeping Charlie. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Sep. 2026 Craig Herr said Flock cameras are popping up like dandelions. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 Here’s the recipe for dandelion green and Christmas lima bean tacos. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dandelion

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dendelyoun, from Anglo-French dent de lion, literally, lion's tooth

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dandelion was in the 14th century

Rhymes for dandelion

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Browse Nearby Words

dand
dandelion
dandelion coffee
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Cite this Entry

“Dandelion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dandelion. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

dandelion

noun
dan·​de·​li·​on ˈdan-də-ˌlī-ən How to pronounce dandelion (audio)
: any of a genus of yellow-flowered weedy plants related to the daisies
especially : one with long deeply toothed stemless leaves sometimes grown as a potherb
Etymology

from early French dent de lion "dandelion," literally, "tooth of the lion"; dent derived from Latin dens "tooth" — related to dental

Word Origin
Sometimes plants are named for their resemblance, real or imagined, to animal shapes. The dandelion might not be a plant we would be quick to connect with a lion's teeth. And yet, in early French this common plant with its yellow flowers was called dent de lion, meaning literally "tooth of the lion." The dandelion leaves have deep notches along the edges. These make the leaves appear to have a row of sharp triangular teeth. In time the French name came to be spelled and pronounced as one word when it came into English, giving us dandelion today.

Medical Definition

dandelion

noun
dan·​de·​li·​on ˈdan-dᵊl-ˌī-ən How to pronounce dandelion (audio)
: any plant of the genus Taraxacum
especially : an herb (T. officinale) sometimes grown as a potherb and nearly cosmopolitan as a weed

More from Merriam-Webster on dandelion

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dandelion

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