magnolia

noun

mag·​no·​lia mag-ˈnōl-yə How to pronounce magnolia (audio)
: any of a genus (Magnolia of the family Magnoliaceae, the magnolia family) of American and Asian shrubs and trees with entire evergreen or deciduous leaves and usually showy white, yellow, rose, or purple flowers usually appearing in early spring

Illustration of magnolia

Illustration of magnolia

Examples of magnolia 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.
Totah says oversized florals and branches—such as olive or magnolia stems—can create arrangements that feel simple, organic, and visually impactful while still allowing the vessel itself to stand out. — Colleen Sullivan, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 July 2026 Chamomile provides a delicate contrast to cardamom and pink pepper top notes, while a heart of magnolia and geranium leaves gives off a fresh, spa-like impression. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 14 July 2026 Head to Deer Lake State Park to enjoy an afternoon among Southern magnolias, woody goldenrods, golden asters, and scrub oaks. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 July 2026 My suggestions for low-cost replacements are crape myrtles, small-growing magnolias and treeform ligustrums or pineapple guavas. — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for magnolia

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Pierre Magnol †1715 French botanist

First Known Use

1739, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of magnolia was in 1739

Browse Nearby Words

magnoferrite
magnolia
Magnoliaceae
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Magnolia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnolia. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

magnolia

noun
mag·​no·​lia mag-ˈnōl-yə How to pronounce magnolia (audio)
: any of a genus of North American and Asian trees or tall shrubs having usually showy white, yellow, rose, or purple flowers that appear before or sometimes with the leaves in the spring

Medical Definition

magnolia

noun
mag·​no·​lia mag-ˈnōl-yə How to pronounce magnolia (audio)
1
capitalized : a genus (family Magnoliaceae, the magnolia family) of North American and Asian shrubs and trees including some whose bark has been used especially as a bitter tonic and diaphoretic in folk medicine
2
a
: any shrub or tree of the genus Magnolia
b
: the dried bark of a magnolia

More from Merriam-Webster on magnolia

Nglish: Translation of magnolia for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about magnolia

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