1
: any of various leguminous shrubs (especially genera Cytisus and Genista) with long slender branches, small leaves, and usually showy yellow flowers
especially : scotch broom
2
: a bundle of firm stiff twigs or fibers bound together on a long handle especially for sweeping

broom

2 of 2

verb

broomed; brooming; brooms

transitive verb

1
: to sweep with or as if with a broom
2
: to finish (something, such as a concrete surface) by means of a broom

Examples of broom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Don't use a hard-bristle broom. Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 22 June 2026 Use a stiff broom or leaf blower to remove leaves, dirt, and dust. Martha Stewart, 21 June 2026
Verb
His horns were heavy clear to their points, which had been broomed from years of combat and digging in the desert. Robert V. Broadbent, Outdoor Life, 12 Feb. 2026 It was left to the feds in Boston to arrest Farwell, after Meatball’s local yokels adamantly refused to do anything other than try to broom the crime by one of their own. Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for broom

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English brōm; akin to Old High German brāmo bramble

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of broom was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Broom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/broom. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

broom

noun
ˈbrüm
ˈbru̇m
1
: a plant of the legume family that has long slender branches along which grow many drooping yellow flowers
2
: a brush that has a long handle and is used for sweeping

Medical Definition

: any of various leguminous shrubs (especially genera Cytisus and Genista) with long slender branches, upright growth, small leaves, and usually showy yellow flowers
especially : scotch broom see broom top

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