sapling

noun

sap·​ling ˈsa-pliŋ How to pronounce sapling (audio)
-plən
1
: a young tree
specifically : one not over four inches (about 10 centimeters) in diameter at breast height
2

Examples of sapling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
These cedar saplings are essential for constructing the traditional dwellings of Eastern Woodlands tribes. Brittney Melton, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025 The summer noise of saplings and shrubs and bug nests and grass and flowers had been muffled by the snow. Hazlitt, 8 Oct. 2025 Skilled operators tend to target invasive shrubs, vines that choke desirable trees, and excessive saplings, while preserving mature canopy and valuable understory. Jon Stojan, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025 Today, those invaders have been cleared, and more than 100,000 native saplings have grown into a lush forest cover that’s now home to sunbirds, bulbuls, geckos and chameleons. Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sapling

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sapling was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sapling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sapling. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

sapling

noun
sap·​ling ˈsap-liŋ How to pronounce sapling (audio)
: a young tree

More from Merriam-Webster on sapling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!