pinyon
noun
pin·yon
variant spelling of piñon
: any of various small pines (such as Pinus quadrifolia, P. cembroides, P. edulis, and P. monophylla) of western North America with edible seeds
also
: the edible seed of a piñon
Examples of pinyon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The pinyon jay — a signature species of Colorado's pinyon-juniper woodlands — has lost 70% of its population.
—
Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 31 Mar. 2025
Outdoor adventurers flock to Browns Canyon National Monument to paddle the whitewater rapids of the Arkansas River, hike among the pinyon pine and juniper trees, fish for brown and rainbow trout and admire wildlife like golden eagles and bighorn sheep.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Dec. 2024
There are steep rocky switchbacks, five-foot-wide paths with jarring drop-offs, and a jaunt through a forest of pinyon pine, Douglas fir, and southwestern white pine.
—Lauren Matison, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Jan. 2023
Visit These Hotels for the Holidays Enchantment Resort, Sedona, Arizona
Red rocks and pinyon pines set the scene for a packed winter itinerary at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star desert beauty.
—Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
Pedal through scrubby sagebrush and a forest of pinyon pine with views of the Wind River Range to the west.
—Outside Online, 5 Aug. 2024
New Mexico’s capital city puts on an autumn show with fiery red maples and golden aspens lined by the deep greens of pinyon pines.
—Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
The fire is burning in pinyon pine, juniper and brush oak and spread from private property to U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land in Uncompahgre National Forest, according to a map from fire officials.
—Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 10 Aug. 2024
Few places have an abundance and diversity of pines like the West Coast: Monterey and bishop, white pines, bristlecone, pinyon and sugar pines are all on the table.
—Michael J. Coren, Washington Post, 23 July 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 31 Mar. 2025
Outdoor adventurers flock to Browns Canyon National Monument to paddle the whitewater rapids of the Arkansas River, hike among the pinyon pine and juniper trees, fish for brown and rainbow trout and admire wildlife like golden eagles and bighorn sheep.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Dec. 2024
There are steep rocky switchbacks, five-foot-wide paths with jarring drop-offs, and a jaunt through a forest of pinyon pine, Douglas fir, and southwestern white pine.
—Lauren Matison, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Jan. 2023
Visit These Hotels for the Holidays Enchantment Resort, Sedona, Arizona
Red rocks and pinyon pines set the scene for a packed winter itinerary at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star desert beauty.
—Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
Pedal through scrubby sagebrush and a forest of pinyon pine with views of the Wind River Range to the west.
—Outside Online, 5 Aug. 2024
New Mexico’s capital city puts on an autumn show with fiery red maples and golden aspens lined by the deep greens of pinyon pines.
—Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
The fire is burning in pinyon pine, juniper and brush oak and spread from private property to U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land in Uncompahgre National Forest, according to a map from fire officials.
—Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 10 Aug. 2024
Few places have an abundance and diversity of pines like the West Coast: Monterey and bishop, white pines, bristlecone, pinyon and sugar pines are all on the table.
—Michael J. Coren, Washington Post, 23 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Pinyon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pinyon. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share