mahogany

noun

ma·​hog·​a·​ny mə-ˈhä-gə-nē 

plural mahoganies

1

: the wood of any of various chiefly tropical trees (family Meliaceae, the mahogany family):

a(1)

: the durable yellowish-brown to reddish-brown usually moderately hard and heavy wood of a West Indian tree (Swietenia mahagoni) that is widely used for cabinetwork and fine finish work

(2)

: a wood similar to mahogany from a congeneric tropical American tree (especially S. macrophylla)

b(1)

: the rather hard heavy usually odorless wood of any of several African trees (genus Khaya)

(2)

: the rather lightweight cedar-scented wood of any of several African trees (genus Entandrophragma) that varies in color from pinkish to deep reddish brown

2

: any of various woods resembling or substituted for mahogany obtained from trees of the mahogany family

3

: a tree that yields mahogany

4

: a moderate reddish brown

Examples of mahogany in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This scenic four-mile path winds through a large mahogany forest and leads to the historic 19th-century Kīlauea Stone Dam. —Will McGough, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025

That’s broken up by mahogany window walls that look out on Austin’s skyline and the Pennybacker Bridge in the distance. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 26 June 2025

For example, this mahogany Adirondack chair will instantly add a summery vibe to lawns and decks, and this elegant coffee table is great for keeping drinks, snacks, or your favorite book close by. —Toni Sutton, People.com, 25 June 2025

With 24 guest rooms spread across five houses, the sprawling property is a wonderland of color and texture, between the sumptuous fabrics, warm hues splashed across the walls, and mahogany furnishings that play up the property’s earthy sensibilities. —Karla Pope, Architectural Digest, 19 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mahogany

• African mahogany
• mountain mahogany
• Philippine mahogany

Kids Definition

mahogany

noun

ma·​hog·​a·​ny mə-ˈhäg-ə-nē 

plural mahoganies

1

: the wood of any of various chiefly tropical trees: as

a

: the strong usually reddish brown and heavy wood of a West Indian tree that is widely used to make furniture

b

: any of several African woods that vary in color from pinkish to deep reddish brown

2

: any of various woods resembling or substituted for true mahogany

3

: a tree from which mahogany is obtained

4

: a moderate reddish brown