softwood

1 of 2

noun

soft·​wood ˈsȯft-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce softwood (audio)
1
: the wood of a coniferous tree (such as a fir or pine) whether hard or soft as distinguished from that of an angiospermous tree
2
: a tree that yields softwood

softwood

2 of 2

adjective

: having or made of softwood

Examples of softwood in a Sentence

Noun pines, firs, and other softwoods
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Cut the branch down from the tip, about five inches; the stem should preferably be green at this end, called softwood. Remove all but three leaves at the top. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 25 Jan. 2024 Russian exports of softwood lumber, the type used to build houses, are estimated to have dropped this year to about 23 million cubic meters, down from a record of more than 31 million cubic meters in 2021, according to Håkan Ekström of Wood Resources International. Ryan Dezember, WSJ, 28 Dec. 2023 Canada welcomed on Thursday a trade dispute panel ruling which said the U.S. should review parts of its policy on softwood lumber which includes duties on most such products exported from its northern neighbor. Fox News, 6 Oct. 2023 The softwood lumber tariffs are the legacy of a decades-long trade dispute over the structure of Canada's timber sector that could not be resolved when a quota agreement expired in 2015. Fox News, 22 Aug. 2023 Pine, like many other softwoods, has contrasting bands of light-colored wood that grew in springtime and alternating, dark-colored bands that grew in winter. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2023 Users are obsessed with the lightweight-but-lasting hold and the decadent, sweet vanilla scent enhanced with florals and softwoods. Alexis Gaskin, ELLE, 12 June 2023 Although forests are different on each coast -- Western being drier with more softwood trees and Eastern being wetter with more hardwood trees -- Kennedy said the principle can be adapted to the local ecosystem. Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 9 June 2023 It becomes fully grown after about seven years, has the tensile strength of steel, and absorbs and stores more carbon than softwood trees. Hannah Selinger, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2023
Adjective
The 1862 Homestead Act propelled the popularity of softwood construction. Anne Quito, Quartz, 26 May 2021 Put it this way: For most softwood trim installation, this nailer is a good choice. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 19 Oct. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'softwood.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1809, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1855, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of softwood was in 1809

Dictionary Entries Near softwood

Cite this Entry

“Softwood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/softwood. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

softwood

noun
soft·​wood
ˈsȯf-ˌtwu̇d
1
: the wood of a tree (as a pine or fir) that produces cones as compared to that of a tree (as a maple) that is a broad-leaved flowering plant compare hardwood sense 1
2
: a tree that produces softwood

More from Merriam-Webster on softwood

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!