Illustration of dandelion
dandelion
noun
dan·de·li·on
ˈdan-də-ˌlī-ən 
-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
Examples of dandelion in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Try coffee alternatives: Black or green tea, dandelion root coffee, or even low-acid coffee may be gentler on blood sugar.
—
Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 25 July 2025
It’s crafted with powerful herbs known to help bloat like organic ginger extract along with a special blend of organic peppermint leaf, lemon balm, and dandelion root extract.
—Brianna Peters, Vogue, 30 June 2025
Some weeds do need digging, such as dandelions, which have a deep taproot like a carrot.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2025
Speak In Code's Rum Old Fashioned: 60ml Aged Rum
10ml Dandelion Demerara
Dandelion Bitters
Nathan’s recipe takes the rum Old Fashioned to another level with a rather unusual ingredient: dandelion.
—Mark Littler, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dandelion
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Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 25 July 2025
It’s crafted with powerful herbs known to help bloat like organic ginger extract along with a special blend of organic peppermint leaf, lemon balm, and dandelion root extract.
—Brianna Peters, Vogue, 30 June 2025
Some weeds do need digging, such as dandelions, which have a deep taproot like a carrot.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2025
Speak In Code's Rum Old Fashioned: 60ml Aged Rum
10ml Dandelion Demerara
Dandelion Bitters
Nathan’s recipe takes the rum Old Fashioned to another level with a rather unusual ingredient: dandelion.
—Mark Littler, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dandelion
Cite this Entry
“Dandelion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dandelion. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dandelion
noun
dan·de·li·on
ˈdan-də-ˌlī-ən
: 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
: any plant of the genus Taraxacum
especially
: an herb (T. officinale) sometimes grown as a potherb and nearly cosmopolitan as a weed
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