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
Nearly a dozen fires have, together, consumed more than 26,000 acres of varied terrain in the region over the last week, in remote island chaparral as well as brushy foothills bordering neighborhoods.
—
Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
Readers also can tell with a glance whether the risk of wildfires is rising or falling, data that is of special interest to people who live in areas close to highly flammable chaparral.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for chaparral
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Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
Readers also can tell with a glance whether the risk of wildfires is rising or falling, data that is of special interest to people who live in areas close to highly flammable chaparral.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for chaparral
Cite this Entry
“Chaparral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chaparral. Accessed 25 May. 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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