crabgrass

noun

crab·​grass ˈkrab-ˌgras How to pronounce crabgrass (audio)
: a grass (especially Digitaria sanguinalis) that has creeping or decumbent stems which root freely at the nodes and that is often a pest in turf or cultivated lands

Examples of crabgrass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The second category is weeds; these are usually Japanese stiltgrass, crabgrass, and other annual grasses, but there are also perennial weed grasses, such as orchardgrass and quackgrass. Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 23 May 2026 But the grass seed failed to take, and by fall, the only green left was thistles and crabgrass. Maggie Slepian, Longreads, 14 May 2026 The lawnmower will disperse the seeds of crabgrass, dandelions, and any other weeds that are allowed to go to seed. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 May 2026 Often more expensive than chemical preemergent crabgrass control, the effectiveness of corn gluten meal improves with every year it is used on a lawn. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crabgrass

Word History

First Known Use

1743, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of crabgrass was in 1743

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crabgrass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crabgrass. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

crabgrass

noun
crab·​grass ˈkrab-ˌgras How to pronounce crabgrass (audio)
: a weedy grass with creeping or sprawling stems that root freely at the nodes

More from Merriam-Webster on crabgrass

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster