bladderwort

noun

blad·​der·​wort ˈbla-dər-ˌwərt How to pronounce bladderwort (audio)
-ˌwȯrt
: any of a genus (Utricularia of the family Lentibulariaceae, the bladderwort family) of chiefly aquatic plants having leaves with tiny saclike structures to trap small invertebrates

Examples of bladderwort 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.
As a result, the pitcher plant must draw its nitrogen from animal prey--just as other bog plants do, such as the Venus flytrap, the sundew, and the bladderwort. — Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 This fearsome looking creature, a humped bladderwort, is a freshwater carnivorous plant, magnified 100x. — Discover Magazine, 14 Oct. 2015

Word History

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bladderwort was in 1776

Browse Nearby Words

bladder worm
bladderwort
bladderwort family
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Cite this Entry

“Bladderwort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bladderwort. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

bladderwort

noun
blad·​der·​wort -ˌwərt How to pronounce bladderwort (audio)
-ˌwȯ(ə)rt
: any of several plants growing in water or on wet shores and having insect-catching bladders on the stem

More from Merriam-Webster on bladderwort

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bladderwort

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