-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
magnolia
noun
mag·no·lia
mag-ˈnōl-yə
: 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
Examples of magnolia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Four-Star Hotels The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans Step into the grand lobby of The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, and you’ll be greeted by the intoxicating aroma of Southern magnolia, the hotel’s signature scent.
—Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
Inspired by the local magnolia flower, a nod to Chengdu’s vibrant culture, a chandelier by artist Andreea Braescu illuminates the space.
—Thomas Waller, WWD, 14 Jan. 2025
Broadleaf evergreens like holly, magnolia, and boxwood might have been coated with an anti-desiccant product like Wilt-Pruf to keep them looking fresh for longer.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2025
The mythical Lydia makes a much better magnolia blossom, closer to the ideal than a real Southern woman could ever be.
—Elizabeth Friend, Longreads, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for magnolia
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.
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Pierre Magnol †1715 French botanist
First Known Use
1739, in the meaning defined above
Articles Related to magnolia
Dictionary Entries Near magnolia
Cite this Entry
“Magnolia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnolia. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
magnolia
noun
mag·no·lia
mag-ˈnōl-yə
: 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
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share