forest floor

noun

: the richly organic layer of soil and debris characteristic of forested land

Examples of forest floor 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.
But by the hundreds, the thousands, the bluebells were creating what felt like an optical illusion, a carpet of color that hovered above the forest floor. Amy Waldman, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026 Ephemerals growing on the forest floor have adapted to the rhythms of the deciduous hardwood trees towering above them. Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 7 Mar. 2026 Her findings demonstrate that commercial logging releases greenhouse gases and stops the natural cycle of regrowth, preventing the forest floor from sharing carbon resources. Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026 The forest floor was soft, blanketed with moss, pine needles, and clover. Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for forest floor

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of forest floor was in 1849

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Cite this Entry

“Forest floor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forest%20floor. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

forest floor

noun
: the upper layer of mixed soil and decayed or decaying organic material typical of forested land
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