dogwood

noun

dog·​wood ˈdȯg-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce dogwood (audio)
: any of various trees and shrubs (genus Cornus of the family Cornaceae, the dogwood family) with clusters of small flowers and often large white, pink, or red involucral bracts

Examples of dogwood in a Sentence

The furniture is made of dogwood.
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.
Bruce’s densified dogwood flooring uses a natural hardening process with heat and pressure to improve resistance to dents and everyday wear. — Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2026 Acorns, dogwood berries, wild grapes and blackberries are just a few of the dozens of fruits now maturing. — Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026 Native shrubs like winterberry holly and red osier dogwood support local wildlife and ecosystems. — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 13 Aug. 2026 Many ornamental and flowering trees fall into this category, like dogwoods, Japanese maples, and ornamental cherry trees. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dogwood

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dogwood was in 1598

Phrases Containing dogwood

Rhymes for dogwood

See All Rhymes for dogwood

Browse Nearby Words

dog whistle
dogwood
dogwood borer
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Cite this Entry

“Dogwood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dogwood. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

dogwood

noun
dog·​wood ˈdȯg-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce dogwood (audio)
: any of various trees and shrubs having clusters of small flowers often surrounded by four showy leaves that look like petals

Medical Definition

dogwood

noun
dog·​wood ˈdȯ-ˌgwu̇d How to pronounce dogwood (audio)
: any tree or shrub of the genus Cornus

More from Merriam-Webster on dogwood

Nglish: Translation of dogwood for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dogwood

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