: any of various western North American evergreen shrubs (genus Arctostaphylos) of the heath family with alternate leaves

Examples of manzanita in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Crews removed grass over 4,400 square feet, put down mulch and park benches and planted 173 species of native plants, such as deer grass, ceanothus, sticky monkey flower, red buckwheat and manzanita. — Paul Rogers, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026 During the 2016 Chimney Fire, which scorched more than 46,000 acres in the Santa Lucia Range, one of the family’s favorite manzanita trees burned black. — Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2026 In a warm climate with mild winters, consider planting Indian hawthorn or manzanita with evergreen foliage. — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 13 Aug. 2026 There are many manzanitas and one sizable coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia). — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for manzanita

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, diminutive of Spanish manzana apple

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of manzanita was in 1846

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Cite this Entry

“Manzanita.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manzanita. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

manzanita

noun
: any of various evergreen shrubs of western North America that belong to the heath family

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