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

At the top of this list is fernleaf acacia (Acacia baileyana), a wonderful small tree with bipinnate blue-grey leaves and fragrant yellow spherical flower puffs. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026

Serve appetizers or a cheese board on this acacia platter. —Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2026

Article takes a modern, Scandinavian-style approach to furniture, and their neutral upholstery options (ivory or black) pairs well with sturdy acacia wood framework. —Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 15 Apr. 2026

Upstaging native grasses are invasive brushes like honey mesquite, whitethorn acacia and creosote, far from the ideal food sources for cattle. —Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 26 Mar. 2026

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

2

: any of the genus Acacia of leguminous plants

3

: gum arabic