dogwood

noun

dog·​wood ˈdȯg-ˌwu̇d 

: any of various trees and shrubs (genus Cornus of the family Cornaceae, the dogwood family) with clusters of small flowers and often large white, pink, or red involucral bracts

Examples of dogwood in a Sentence

The furniture is made of dogwood.

Recent Examples on the Web

Spring is ideal for planting flowering shrubs, perennials, and ornamental trees such as azaleas, hydrangeas, and dogwoods. —William Jones, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025

According to her, the zoo takes the palatable trees removed from the preserve — dogwood, sumac, elm, mulberry, and boxelder — and feeds them to a variety of zoo animals, including gorillas, elephants, and giraffes. —Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025

Oaks, dogwoods, and maples over 12 inches in diameter are trees most often affected by slime flux. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025

Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, is known for its captivating dogwood trees and its deep ties to the American Revolution. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dogwood

• flowering dogwood

Rhymes for dogwood

• allgood
• basswood
• beechwood
• bellwood
• birchwood
• boxwood
• boyhood
• brushwood
• childhood
• cordwood
• driftwood
• falsehood

Kids Definition

dogwood

noun

dog·​wood ˈdȯg-ˌwu̇d 

: any of various trees and shrubs having clusters of small flowers often surrounded by four showy leaves that look like petals

Medical Definition

dogwood

noun

dog·​wood ˈdȯ-ˌgwu̇d 

: any tree or shrub of the genus Cornus