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

Pair a large azalea with a flowering tree such as dogwood, crape myrtle, redbud, or serviceberry. —Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2025

Ornamental trees are small, flowering trees such as dogwood, Japanese maple and cherry plum. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2025

Many short-growing tree species, such as dogwood, provide lower branches with tree buds that are within reach. —Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 20 Mar. 2025

Many of these birds will feast on the berries of hollies, dogwoods, spicebush, arrowwood viburnums, and magnolias.3 Was this page helpful? —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2024

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