1 fritillaries | Definition of fritillaries
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fritillary

noun
frit·​il·​lary | \ ˈfri-tÉ™-ËŒler-Ä“ How to pronounce fritillary (audio) \
plural fritillaries

Definition of fritillary

1 : fritillaria
2 : any of numerous nymphalid butterflies (Argynnis, Speyeria, and related genera) that usually are orange with black spots on the upper side of both wings and silver spotted on the underside of the hind wing

Examples of fritillary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Two endangered lilies — Green’s mariposa and Gentner’s fritillary — bloom purple and red each spring. — Stephen Nash, New York Times, "At Three National Monuments, Quiet Trails and Questions About the Future," 6 Dec. 2017 In the Gulf fritillary, some silver spots disappear, and in the monarch, white scales emerge amid the usual tiger colors. — Ed Yong, The Atlantic, "Scientists Can Now Repaint Butterfly Wings," 18 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fritillary.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of fritillary

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for fritillary

New Latin fritillaria

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More from Merriam-Webster on fritillary

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with fritillary

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fritillary

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