acacia

noun

aca·​cia ə-ˈkā-shə 

1

: gum arabic

2

: any of a large genus (Acacia) of leguminous shrubs and trees of warm regions with leaves pinnate or reduced to phyllodes and white or yellow flower clusters

Examples of acacia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Across the lobby, The Garden remains a top destination for New York City’s power breakfasts, beloved for its fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes and serene setting beneath towering acacia trees. —Katie Chang, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

This artistic process wouldn’t be possible without the acacia tree—namely the species Senegalia senegal and Vachellia seyal—a small, thorny, deciduous tree native to the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, west coastal India, and the semidesert regions of Africa. —Erik Zou, JSTOR Daily, 25 Apr. 2025

This three-piece bistro set is made from splinter-free acacia wood and includes two cushions for the seats. —Rachel Trujillo, People.com, 10 July 2025

Take this five-piece outdoor furniture set, for example, which is made with acacia wood and has water-resistant cushions for more comfortable lounging. —Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 8 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, going back to Latin, "a species of Acacia, gum arabic," borrowed from Greek akakía "a plant of the Acacia genus (probably A. nilotica), acacia extract," of obscure origin; (sense 1) Middle English acacia, acacie "astringent gum made from the juice of green plums or sloes," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French acasie, acacie "juice of plums or sloes," borrowed from Medieval Latin acacia, going back to Latin, "gum arabic"

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for acacia

• cetacea
• crustacea
• depopulation
• geisha
• orchidaceae
• osteomalacia

Kids Definition

acacia

noun

aca·​cia ə-ˈkā-shə 

1

: gum arabic

2

: any of numerous shrubs and trees of the legume family that grow in warm areas and have white or yellow flower clusters

Medical Definition

acacia

noun

aca·​cia ə-ˈkā-shə 

1

capitalized : a genus of woody leguminous plants of warm regions having pinnate leaves and white or yellow flower clusters see catechu

2

: any of the genus Acacia of leguminous plants

3

: gum arabic