Definition of FOLIAGE

How do you pronounce foliage?: Usage Guide

The disyllabic pronunciation \ˈfō-lij\ is very common. Some commentators insist that foliage requires a trisyllabic pronunciation because of its spelling, but words of a similar pattern such as carriage and marriage do not fall under their prescription. The pronunciation \ˈfȯi-lij\ is disapproved because it suggests the transposition of the l and i in the spelling. It is not as common as \ˈfō-lij\ and may be associated with the nonstandard spelling foilage.

How Do You Pronounce foliage?

The English language has its share of common but disputed usages. One such example is the pronunciation of foliage as FOH-lij or, even more irksome to some, FOY-lij. The first of these two pronunciations, though frequently disparaged, is consistent with the pronunciation of the -iage ending in marriage and carriage, as well the less common but widely accepted pronunciation of verbiage as VER-bij. The second of these is often more fiercely denounced, in part because of its association with the nonstandard spelling foilage. Oddly enough, foliage traces back to Middle French foille ("leaf"), which is also the source of the English word foil (as in "aluminum foil"). When adopted by Middle English speakers, foil originally meant "leaf."

Examples of foliage in a Sentence

a tree with pretty foliage the thick green foliage of the jungle

Recent Examples on the Web

Lately, more foliage-centric versions are becoming popular, too. — Brittney Morgan, House Beautiful, "6 Trendy Houseplants You'll Be Seeing Everywhere This Spring," 5 Mar. 2019 Its interior displays romantic scenes from the tale, and its exterior is intricately covered with golden arabesque foliage. — Emily Ferguson, WSJ, "The Legacy of a Japanese Classic," 22 Feb. 2019 Sophie Turner The Game of Thrones star and husband Joe Jonas wore a matching color palette of moss green, white, and black that perfectly complements the glowing sunset and rich foliage that surrounds them. — Nicole Saunders, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Best Celebrity Instagrams from Valentine’s Day 2019," 15 Feb. 2019 But the main star throughout the house is the island itself, lushly landscaped with foliage, a manicured lawn, and a heated pool flanked by Adirondack chairs. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "Charming 1912 house on a private island asks $4.9M," 5 Dec. 2018 Remove remaining protective winter mulch from perennial beds, trim out old foliage and apply mulch for summer as soon as true leaves develop. — idahostatesman, "A gardening to do list for March and April | Idaho Statesman," 21 Mar. 2018 Tables decorated with large palm leaves and fresh foliage helped to tie the tropical theme of the event. — Allix Cott, Harper's BAZAAR, "A Sleek Cape in the Desert: What Happens When a Bridal Designer Weds," 26 Apr. 2017 The couple also installed copious foliage as a means to keep prying eyes away. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Everything You Need to Know About Anmer Hall, Prince William and Kate Middleton's Country Home," 23 Dec. 2018 More foliage—occasionally decorated with charming bird ornaments and placed in chic brass vases—brings a fresh feeling to every room. — ELLE Decor, "This Holiday Party Is Anything But Traditional—And We're Obsessed," 30 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'foliage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.