Meanings
plural monarch butterflies
- A butterfly of the species Danaus plexippus, native to North and Central America.
A US study published earlier this year found that dust emitted when seeds treated with neonicotinoids are planted causes sub-lethal effects in caterpillars of the monarch butterfly.
2015 November 24, Patrick Barkham, “Pesticide may be reason butterfly numbers are falling in UK, says study”, in The Guardian
Synonyms & antonyms
nounlarge migratory American butterfly having deep orange wings with black and white markings; the larvae feed on milkweed
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Believed to have been named in honor of King William III of England, as the butterfly’s main color is that of the king’s secondary title, Prince of Orange.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan monarca
- monarcaDanaus plexippus
Dutch monarchvlinder
- monarchvlinderDanaus plexippus
Finnish monarkkiperhonen
- monarkkiperhonenDanaus plexippus
French monarque
- monarqueDanaus plexippus
German Monarchfalter
- MonarchfalterDanaus plexippus
Hungarian királylepke
- királylepkeDanaus plexippus
Icelandic kóngafiðrildi
- kóngafiðrildiDanaus plexippus
Italian farfalla monarca
- farfalla monarcaDanaus plexippus
Japanese 大樺斑
- 大樺斑 (ookabamadara)Danaus plexippus
Korean 제왕나비
- 제왕나비 (jewangnabi)Danaus plexippus
Māori kahuku
- kahukuDanaus plexippus
Russian данаида монарх
- данаида монарх (danaida monarx)Danaus plexippus
Turkish kral kelebeği
- kral kelebeğiDanaus plexippus
Vietnamese bướm vua
- bướm vuaDanaus plexippus
Cite this entry
monarch butterfly. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/monarch%20butterfly
“monarch butterfly.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/monarch%20butterfly. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “monarch butterfly,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/monarch%20butterfly.
Source: monarch butterfly on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.