vegetation

noun

veg·​e·​ta·​tion ˌve-jə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: plant life or total plant cover (as of an area)

2

: the act or process of vegetating

3

: inert existence

4

: an abnormal growth upon a body part

fibrin vegetations on the mitral valve

vegetational

ˌve-jə-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nəl

 

adjective

Synonyms

• foliage
• flora

Examples of vegetation in a Sentence

the dense vegetation of the jungle

the local vegetation is flourishing as a result of the recent rains

Recent Examples on the Web

According to the paper, the vertical structure allows panels in the upper canopy to generate power while permitting sufficient light to reach the understory vegetation. —Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025

The forest floor has seen some burning, and much clearing of vegetation and debris by firefighters, who have been aware for a week that the Garnet Fire could threaten the grove, Zwierzchowski said. —Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025

Lakeside Fire Marshal Jeremy Davis said the fire department got a report of a vegetation fire near East Las Coches Road. —Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025

Home sellers will have more work to do in the coming years as the state begins enforcing regulations in 2029 that require owners of existing homes in high-risk wildfire areas to remove vegetation and other combustible material within five feet of the building. —Bloomberg, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin vegetātiōn-, vegetātiō "power of growth," going back to Latin, "act of invigorating," from vegetāre "to impart energy to, invigorate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal nouns — more at vegetate

First Known Use

1564, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for vegetation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

vegetation

noun

veg·​e·​ta·​tion ˌvej-ə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act or process of vegetating

2

: dull or inactive living

a life of tranquil vegetation

3

: plant life or cover (as of an area)

Medical Definition

vegetation

noun

veg·​e·​ta·​tion ˌvej-ə-ˈtā-shən 

: an abnormal outgrowth upon a body part

specifically : any of the warty excrescences on the valves of the heart that are composed of various tissue elements including fibrin and collagen and that are typical of endocarditis