forsythia

noun

for·​syth·​ia fər-ˈsi-thē-ə 

chiefly British -ˈsī-

plural forsythias also forsythia

: any of a genus (Forsythia) of ornamental shrubs of the olive family with opposite leaves and yellow bell-shaped flowers appearing before the leaves in early spring

Illustration of forsythia

Examples of forsythia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The bright yellow blooms of forsythias are one of the earliest pops of color in the garden. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 25 June 2026

This dwarf forsythia produces abundant yellow flowers from base to tip on its 3-foot-tall frame, ensuring more blooms than stems and requiring only light annual pruning. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 June 2026

Spring flowering trees and shrubs (azaleas, dogwoods, forsythia, oakleaf hydrangeas) should be pruned shortly after flowering is over. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 May 2026

For the Mom who likes to garden, give her a shrub like forsythia. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 8 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from William Forsyth †1804 British botanist

First Known Use

circa 1814, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for forsythia

• lithia

Kids Definition

forsythia

noun

for·​syth·​ia fər-ˈsith-ē-ə 

plural forsythias also forsythia

: any of a genus of shrubs related to the olive and having yellow bell-shaped flowers appearing before the leaves in early spring