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 Independence Inn—where Lorelai worked as a maid during the first three seasons—had a formal vibe with a dark color palette and mahogany wood throughout the lobby area (including that fireplace). —Mara Reinstein, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2025

Portside Adirondack Chair Adirondack chairs are notoriously pricey, but this one is contract grade, made with moisture-resistant solid mahogany and eucalyptus wood that is durable and well-worth its original value—let alone the sale price. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025

Silver Dollar Saloon The Silver Dollar Saloon, opened in 1879, is another historic spot that has seen it all, from boomtown miners to legendary figures like Doc Holliday pulling up a chair at its grand mahogany bar. —Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 27 Oct. 2025

Builders like Van Dam and Boesch meanwhile are building more contemporary vessels from mahogany, while Riva, Bertram and Chris-Craft employ subtle 1960s curves as design cues for their fiberglass vessels. —Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 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