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Definition of vanessa

vanessa

/vəˈnɛs.ə/
va · nes · sa
Plural:vanessas
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vanessa Lexical Profile

vanessa Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of various brightly colored, medium-sized brush-footed butterflies of the genus Vanessa (family Nymphalidae), distributed worldwide and including well-known migratory species such as the red admiral and the painted lady.

• Rhymes for vanessa

• Nearby Words

vandalization
vandalize
vane
vanessa
vang vieng
vanga
vanguard

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 18th century by Anglo-Irish author Jonathan Swift as a literary nickname for Esther Vanhomrigh, formed by combining 'Van-' from her surname with 'Essa', a pet form of Esther; later adopted in 1807 by Danish entomologist Johan Christian Fabricius for the butterfly genus.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Vanessa. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/vanessa
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