old-growth

adjective

ˈōl(d)-ˈgrōth 

: of, relating to, or being a forest characterized by the presence of large old trees, numerous snags and woody debris, and a multilayered canopy and that is usually in a late stage of ecological succession

old growth noun

Examples of old-growth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Muir Woods National Monument, an old-growth redwood forest just north of San Francisco, draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every year for good reason. — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2026

By the early 1990s, 90 percent of the Willamette’s old-growth forests had already been chopped down and rendered into sundecks and pleasure boats. — Literary Hub, 10 July 2026

Tunnel construction would result in the loss of 16 old-growth redwood trees wider than 4 feet, in addition to other trees, according to the environmental impact report. — Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026

That includes southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, where eagles, bears, salmon and many other species thrive in old-growth coastal forest along the Inside Passage. — Mariah Meek, The Conversation, 15 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for old-growth

• ingrowth
• outgrowth
• both
• doeth
• growth
• loath
• oath
• quoth
• sloth
• troth
• undergrowth

Kids Definition

old-growth

adjective

ˈōl(d)-ˈgrōth

: of, relating to, or being a forest characterized by the presence of large old trees, dead standing trees, and fallen rotting trees and that is usually in a late stage of development