foliage

noun

fo·​liage ˈfō-lē-ij 

 also  -lyij;

nonstandard

ˈfō-lij 

 nonstandard  ˈfȯi-lij

1

: a representation of leaves, flowers, and branches for architectural ornamentation

The doorframe was decorated with beautifully carved foliage.

2

: the aggregate of leaves of one or more plants

trees with colorful autumn foliage

3

: a cluster of leaves, flowers, and branches

A wreath of foliage adorned her front door.

foliaged

ˈfō-lē-ijd 

 also  -lyijd;

 nonstandard  ˈfō-lijd

 nonstandard  ˈfȯi-

adjective

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.

Did you know?

How Do You Pronounce foliage?

Whether you’re a casual leaf peeper or a card-carrying botanist, a staunch New Englander or Caribbean beach bum, there’s plenty to love about foliage—though the pronunciation of foliage has long been a point of contention among English speakers. Most commonly accepted is the trisyllabic \FOH-lee-ij\. However, there’s no denying that the pronunciations \FOH-lij\ and even \FOY-lij\ have also staked their claim. The first of these disputed pronunciations is consistent with the pronunciation of the -iage ending in marriage and carriage. The second is often more fiercely denounced, in part because of its association with the nonstandard spelling foilage. But there’s redemption for this estranged pronunciation: 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." Love it or leaf it, there’s just no taking the "foil" out of foliage.

Synonyms

• vegetation
• flora

Examples of foliage in a Sentence

a tree with pretty foliage

the thick green foliage of the jungle

Recent Examples on the Web

Native viburnums, such as Arrowwood and Blackhaw, show off red, yellow and purple foliage in the fall, along with berries that also become winter bird feeders. —Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Sep. 2025

Dwarf golden sweet flag forms a mat of golden-green foliage over time and is semi-evergreen. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2025

Fall is a beautiful time to go hiking, but with the colorful foliage comes dropping temperatures, rainy days, and unpredictable weather. —Anne Taylor, Travel + Leisure, 5 Sep. 2025

Another reason to prune later is because the dead foliage benefits the roots by providing insulation during the winter. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French fuellage, from foille leaf — more at foil entry 2

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing foliage

• foliage plant

Rhymes for foliage

• bricolage

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Kids Definition

foliage

noun

fo·​li·​age

ˈfō-l(ē-)ij,

 also  ˈfōl-yij

: the mass of leaves of a plant

foliaged

-l(ē-)ijd

 also  -yijd

adjective

Etymology

an altered form of earlier foillage "a mass of leaves," from early French fuellage (same meaning), from fuelle, foille "leaf," derived from Latin folium "leaf" — related to foil entry 2, portfolio