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

There’s a custom iron shield front door, 8-foot blond mahogany interior doors, and a custom garage door, all imported from Mexico, along with handmade white oak cabinets. —Businessden, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026

Stately mahogany doors open into the main home’s classic black-and-white tiled entryway. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2026

Colored with wood tones and cherry and mahogany counters and furniture, Kinsho centers around an 18-seat sushi bar and also includes banquette seating and a communal wooden table primarily reserved for walk-ins. —Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026

The remains of the meal littered the surface of the long, gleaming mahogany table. —Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026

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