chaparral
noun
chap·ar·ral
ˌsha-pə-ˈral 
-ˈrel
1
: a thicket of dwarf evergreen oaks
broadly
: a dense impenetrable thicket of shrubs or dwarf trees
2
: an ecological community composed of shrubby plants adapted to dry summers and moist winters that occurs especially in southern California
Examples of chaparral in a Sentence
the rabbit darted into the chaparral
Recent Examples on the Web
This beautiful park rises from the heart of Marin County and includes deep canyons and sweeping hillsides are covered with cool redwood forests, open grasslands and sturdy chaparral.
—
Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Natural phenomena and animal science Five miles east of town, the University of California’s Hopland Research and Extension Center spans 5,300 acres of oak woodland, grassland, chaparral and riparian habitat, operating since 1951.
—Audrey T. Williams, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
Along the way, hikers are surrounded by mafic southern mixed chaparral, a unique type of chaparral vegetation that is found in mafic soils, which are rich in magnesium and iron.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
In the hills, in the hollows, up the draws and the old dirt logging roads, hidden in the chaparral above the fog line, growing and selling weed became a way of life, woven into the community and its economy.
—Scott Eden, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chaparral
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Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Natural phenomena and animal science Five miles east of town, the University of California’s Hopland Research and Extension Center spans 5,300 acres of oak woodland, grassland, chaparral and riparian habitat, operating since 1951.
—Audrey T. Williams, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
Along the way, hikers are surrounded by mafic southern mixed chaparral, a unique type of chaparral vegetation that is found in mafic soils, which are rich in magnesium and iron.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
In the hills, in the hollows, up the draws and the old dirt logging roads, hidden in the chaparral above the fog line, growing and selling weed became a way of life, woven into the community and its economy.
—Scott Eden, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chaparral
Cite this Entry
“Chaparral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chaparral. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chaparral
noun
chap·ar·ral
ˌshap-ə-ˈral
-ˈrel
1
: a thicket of dwarf evergreen oaks
also
: a dense thicket
2
: an ecological community that is found especially in parts of southern California and is composed of shrubby plants that grow well in dry sunny summers and moist winters
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