forsythia

noun for·syth·ia \ fər-ˈsi-thē-ə , chiefly British -ˈsī- \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of forsythia

plural forsythias also forsythia

: any of a genus (Forsythia) of ornamental shrubs of the olive family with opposite leaves and yellow bell-shaped flowers appearing before the leaves in early spring

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Recent Examples of forsythia from the Web

Redbuds, tulips and forsythia have yet to appear this spring, but that’s not holding back the arrival of the art fairs metro Detroiters love.

— greg crawford, Detroit Free Press, "Plan your weekend: 'Tosca,' ventriloquist Darci Lynne, Afro-Caribbean cook-off," 4 Apr. 2018
That would suggest it’s a nice place, a wonderful place in fact, bursting with Golden Bells, which are a fancy type of forsythia.

— paul daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Masters 2018: Doc renames some holes at Augusta National Golf Club," 3 Apr. 2018
However, do not prune shrubs that will bloom this spring, including azaleas, forsythia, pieris and camellias.

— nancy brachey, charlotteobserver, "Let these beauties bloom in your landscape," 5 Feb. 2018
Visitors can also buy bundles of branches cut from the yellow flowering Mai tree (also called Japanese apricot or Japanese forsythia), which the Vietnamese bring indoors for good luck.

— lori basheda, latimes.com, "Flower Festival in Westminster sets the scene for Tet," 9 Feb. 2018
Another garden aspect new residents should be aware of include watching for blossoming of forsythia.

— margaret lauterbach, idahostatesman, "Thinking of becoming a gardener? Here’s a primer for southern Idaho," 31 Jan. 2018
Look to crabapples, flowering currant, elderberry, huckleberry, forsythia, Pieris and Oregon grape.

— kym pokorny, OregonLive.com, "Mason bees go to work early in the season before honey bees emerge," 28 Jan. 2018
After moving around the Baltimore area, the family settled in Timonium, in a house on Hunters Ridge Road covered in forsythia.

— christina tkacik, baltimoresun.com, "Dr. John Griswold of White Hall dies," 27 Aug. 2017
Plants especially susceptible to fasciation include ferns, willow trees, delphiniums, foxgloves, forsythia, euphorbias, lilies, primulas and verbascums such as the mullein.

— margaret lauterbach, idahostatesman, "Some non-native weeds flourish in Idaho," 31 May 2017

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

Illustration of forsythia

Origin and Etymology of forsythia

New Latin, from William Forsyth †1804 British botanist

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First Known Use: circa 1814

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FORSYTHIA Defined for English Language Learners

forsythia

noun

Definition of forsythia for English Language Learners

: a type of bush that produces bright yellow flowers in the early spring

FORSYTHIA Defined for Kids

forsythia

noun for·syth·ia \ fər-ˈsi-thē-ə \

Definition of forsythia for Students

: a bush often grown for its bright yellow flowers that appear in early spring

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Spanish Central: Translation of forsythia Nglish: Translation of forsythia for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about forsythia

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forsythia

Definition of forsythia

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Origin and Etymology of forsythia

FORSYTHIA Defined for English Language Learners

forsythia

Definition of forsythia for English Language Learners

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forsythia

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forsythia

Definition of forsythia

Recent Examples of forsythia from the Web

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Origin and Etymology of forsythia

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forsythia

Definition of forsythia for English Language Learners

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