kudzu

noun

kud·​zu ˈku̇d-(ˌ)zü  ˈkəd- 

: a fast-growing Asian vine (Pueraria montana) of the legume family that is used for forage and erosion control and is often a serious weed in the southeastern U.S.

Examples of kudzu in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In reality, decades of land abuse and exploitation left behind a scarred terrain uniquely prepared for the arrival of kudzu as a fast-growing pioneer plant. — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Aug. 2026

This kudzu costs the country $3 trillion a year, the business consultants Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini have estimated. — Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Japanese kuzu

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

kudzu

noun

kud·​zu ˈku̇d-zü 

: a fast-growing trailing Asian vine that is related to the pea, is grown for grazing and for erosion control, and is often a serious weed in the southeastern U.S.