mahogany

noun

ma·​hog·​a·​ny mə-ˈhä-gə-nē 

plural mahoganies

1

: the wood of any of various chiefly tropical trees (family Meliaceae, the mahogany family):

a(1)

: the durable yellowish-brown to reddish-brown usually moderately hard and heavy wood of a West Indian tree (Swietenia mahagoni) that is widely used for cabinetwork and fine finish work

(2)

: a wood similar to mahogany from a congeneric tropical American tree (especially S. macrophylla)

b(1)

: the rather hard heavy usually odorless wood of any of several African trees (genus Khaya)

(2)

: the rather lightweight cedar-scented wood of any of several African trees (genus Entandrophragma) that varies in color from pinkish to deep reddish brown

2

: any of various woods resembling or substituted for mahogany obtained from trees of the mahogany family

3

: a tree that yields mahogany

4

: a moderate reddish brown

Examples of mahogany in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The kitchen spotlights a mahogany butcher block island and red-brick back splashes. —David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2025

After a satisfying cup of slightly spicy chowder --yes, that’s chorizo in the mix – the ribs arrived, its deep mahogany bark offering a preview of what was to come. —Leslie Kelly, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025

Furniture came over time — an Indian metal table from Perry’s family in Trinidad, a neo-Classical mahogany sideboard from Antigua, a desk once owned by Marcus Garvey, an oil painting by the Cuban artist Roberto Fabelo. —Isabel Wilkinson Schor, New York Times, 16 May 2025

At the mahogany bar, Michael Kors held court beside his husband, Lance LePere. —Ian Malone, Vogue, 6 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mahogany

• African mahogany
• mountain mahogany
• Philippine mahogany

Kids Definition

mahogany

noun

ma·​hog·​a·​ny mə-ˈhäg-ə-nē 

plural mahoganies

1

: the wood of any of various chiefly tropical trees: as

a

: the strong usually reddish brown and heavy wood of a West Indian tree that is widely used to make furniture

b

: any of several African woods that vary in color from pinkish to deep reddish brown

2

: any of various woods resembling or substituted for true mahogany

3

: a tree from which mahogany is obtained

4

: a moderate reddish brown