mistletoe

noun

mis·​tle·​toe ˈmi-səl-ˌtō 

chiefly British ˈmi-zəl-

: a European semiparasitic green shrub (Viscum album of the family Santalaceae, the sandalwood family) with thick leaves, small yellowish flowers, and waxy-white glutinous berries

broadly : any of various plants of the sandalwood family (as of an American genus Phoradendron) resembling the true mistletoe

Illustration of mistletoe

Examples of mistletoe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some of the couples held mistletoe above their heads while participating. —Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025

Why not cauterize a severed hand, add some just-for-fun cocktail rings, and then shatter the hand’s rigid bones with a hammer or mallet, which will allow the fingers to be wrapped around a colorful ceramic mug with a holly or mistletoe motif? —Paul Rudnick, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2025

This book has Sammy procrastinating crafting her holiday wreaths, a steamy scene in front of the fireplace, kissing under the mistletoe, and of course, a Christmas Eve miracle. —Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025

Whether your choice of festive romance is a spicy romp in the holly and the ivy, or mistletoe kisses in a winter wonderland, there is something to suit every taste, and threaded through them all like a string of fairy lights there is love. —Jenny Bayliss, PEOPLE, 7 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mistilto, from Old English misteltān, from mistel mistletoe + tān twig; akin to Old High German & Old Saxon mistil mistletoe and to Old High German zein twig

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mistletoe

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

mistletoe

noun

mis·​tle·​toe ˈmis-əl-ˌtō 

: a European plant with yellowish flowers and waxy white berries that grows on the branches and trunks of trees

also : any of various related plants that resemble the mistletoe

Medical Definition

mistletoe

noun

mis·​tle·​toe

ˈmis-əl-ˌtō, chiefly British ˈmiz-

: any of various parasitic or semiparasitic plants (family Santalaceae) that have thick leathery mostly opposite and sometimes scaly leaves and include some formerly used in preparations with oxytocic, antispasmodic, or heart-stimulating properties: as

a

: a European semiparasitic green shrub (Viscum album) having somewhat poisonous leaves, stems, and waxy-white glutinous berries that have been used in folk medicine

b

: any of various American plants (genus Phoradendron and especially P. serotinum synonym P. flavescens) resembling the true mistletoe of Europe