woody

1 of 2

adjective

ˈwu̇-dē 

woodier; woodiest

1

: abounding or overgrown with woods

2

a

: of or containing wood or wood fibers : ligneous

woody tissues

b

: having woody parts : rich in xylem and associated structures

woody plants

3

: characteristic of or suggestive of wood

wine with a woody flavor

woodiness noun

woody

2 of 2

noun

ˈwu̇-dē 

variants or woodie

plural woodies

: a wood-paneled station wagon

Examples of woody in a Sentence

Adjective

a woody piece of land

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Using your rosemary plant often is one way to keep it healthy because harvesting promotes new bushy growth and keeps stems from becoming woody. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2026

Use Hand Pruners or Loppers Start at the property line on the ground and work your way upward, using hand pruners for smaller vines and loppers for thicker, woodier stems. —Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 14 Jan. 2026

Noun

The company’s repertoire also includes Cygnet 77 ($150), an expression imbued with complex woody overtones by aging in Welsh whisky oak barrels for 12 months. —Nick Scott, Robb Report, 19 Jan. 2026

This perennial Mediterranean herb adds woody, piney flavor to chicken dishes, casseroles, and potatoes. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

alteration of wood entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1961, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for woody

• goody
• hoodie

Kids Definition

woody

adjective

ˈwu̇d-ē

woodier; woodiest

1

: having or covered with trees

a woody piece of land

2

: of or containing wood or wood fibers

woody plant tissue

3

: characteristic of or similar to wood

a woody texture