variants
or less commonly mullen
: any of a genus (Verbascum) of usually woolly-leaved Eurasian herbs of the snapdragon family including some that are naturalized in North America
Examples of mullein in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The drops contain mullein, zinc, vitamins A and D, as well as other naturally occurring ingredients that boost your immune system.
—
Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 25 Mar. 2025
An example from the 12th-century English compendium of animal lore, the Aberdeen Bestiary, tells of bears coating sores with mullein.
—Adrienne Mayor, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2024
Leaving blackberry, mullein, ironweed, mountain mint, Joe Pye weed, sunflowers and wild bergamot standing can make a huge difference.
—Tovah Martin, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2023
Bluebirds flit about a meadow of mullein and wild roses.
—Tammy Webber, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2022
The large woolly leaves of the mullein were on the ground while its stem was in the air, its tall spikes spattered and speckled with bright yellow flowers.
—Joan Acocella, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2022
As the short, rocky trail descends among hairy stands of common mullein that can sprout corn-like shoots to over 6 feet high, riparian vegetation closes in on the trail.
—Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 8 July 2022
Commonly known as moth mullein for its antenna-like stamens, this species was introduced to North America in the 1800s and lives an unassuming life in fields and meadows.
—Cara Giaimo New York, Star Tribune, 5 June 2021
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Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 25 Mar. 2025
An example from the 12th-century English compendium of animal lore, the Aberdeen Bestiary, tells of bears coating sores with mullein.
—Adrienne Mayor, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2024
Leaving blackberry, mullein, ironweed, mountain mint, Joe Pye weed, sunflowers and wild bergamot standing can make a huge difference.
—Tovah Martin, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2023
Bluebirds flit about a meadow of mullein and wild roses.
—Tammy Webber, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2022
The large woolly leaves of the mullein were on the ground while its stem was in the air, its tall spikes spattered and speckled with bright yellow flowers.
—Joan Acocella, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2022
As the short, rocky trail descends among hairy stands of common mullein that can sprout corn-like shoots to over 6 feet high, riparian vegetation closes in on the trail.
—Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 8 July 2022
Commonly known as moth mullein for its antenna-like stamens, this species was introduced to North America in the 1800s and lives an unassuming life in fields and meadows.
—Cara Giaimo New York, Star Tribune, 5 June 2021
Cite this Entry
“Mullein.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mullein. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mullein
noun
mul·lein
variants
also mullen
: a tall herb related to the snapdragons and having coarse woolly leaves and spikes of usually yellow flowers
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