conifer

noun

co·​ni·​fer ˈkä-nə-fər 

 also  ˈkō-

: any of an order (Coniferales) of mostly evergreen trees and shrubs having usually needle-shaped or scalelike leaves and including forms (such as pines) with true cones and others (such as yews) with an arillate fruit

coniferous

kō-ˈni-f(ə-)rəs 

kə-

adjective

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Any of an order of trees and shrubs, conifers usually have usually needle-shaped or scale-like leaves. Conifers include forms (such as pines) with true cones and others (such as yews) that bear a fruit. There are more than 550 species of conifers, and most are evergreen trees and shrubs. They grow throughout the world (except in Antarctica) and prefer temperate climate zones. They include the world's smallest and tallest trees. Conifers supply softwood timber used for general construction, boxes and crates, and other articles, as well as pulpwood for paper. The wood is also used as fuel and in the manufacture of cellulose products, plywood, and veneers. The trees are the source of resins, oils, turpentine, tars, and pharmaceuticals.

Examples of conifer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As the fire advances, the landscape shifts from dense conifer forests to more open pinyon-juniper woodlands and ponderosa pine at lower elevations, where vegetation is lighter and fuels are less continuous. —Brandi D. Addison, AZCentral.com, 1 Aug. 2025

The most flammable plant species should not be within 30 feet of any structure, including: palm trees, conifers, pepper trees, acacia and eucalyptus. —Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 July 2025

Tour through quiet conifer forests, along the wide Madison River, and across meadows with views of the Madison and Gallatin ranges on this 7.7-mile lollipop loop out of the gateway town of West Yellowstone. —Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan, Outside Online, 3 June 2025

Early efforts focused on planting single-species conifer plantations — primarily white fir and ponderosa pine — to quickly reforest the landscape. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Latin conifer cone-bearing, from conus cone + -fer

First Known Use

circa 1841, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for conifer

• ionophore

Kids Definition

conifer

noun

con·​i·​fer

ˈkän-ə-fər,

 also  ˈkō-nə-

: any of an order of mostly evergreen trees and shrubs having leaves resembling needles or scales in shape and including forms (as pines) with true cones