arborvitae

noun

ar·​bor·​vi·​tae ˌär-bər-ˈvī-tē 

: any of various evergreen trees and shrubs (especially genus Thuja) of the cypress family that usually have closely overlapping or compressed scale leaves and are often grown for ornament and in hedges

Examples of arborvitae in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, Globosa Eastern arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Globosa’) is a shrub that grows 4 to 6 feet high and wide. —Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026

Designers are now layering materials — combining sections of horizontal cedar fencing with tall, dense plantings like arborvitae or ornamental grasses—to create softer, more organic privacy screens. —Rosehill Gardens, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026

This is especially true of conifers like pines, cedars, and arborvitae. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026

Plenty of plants were destroyed in the Eaton and Palisades fires, of course, especially highly flammable shrubs like tall, skinny arborvitae. —Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin arbor vitae, literally, tree of life

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for arborvitae

• vita
• vitae

Kids Definition

arborvitae

noun

ar·​bor·​vi·​tae ˌär-bər-ˈvīt-ē 

: any of various evergreen trees and shrubs with closely overlapping scalelike leaves that are often grown for ornament and hedges

Etymology

modern Latin arbor vitae, literally "tree of life"