serviceberry

noun

ser·​vice·​ber·​ry ˈsər-vəs-ˌber-ē 

also ˈsär-

1

: the edible purple or red fruit of any of various North American trees or shrubs (genus Amelanchier) of the rose family

2

: a tree or shrub that produces serviceberries and has showy white flowers in the spring

called also Juneberry, shadblow, shadbush

Examples of serviceberry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, serviceberries provide spring-ripening fruit, red-twig dogwoods provide summer fruit, while hawthorns and crabapples provide fruit in fall and winter. —Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026

This cross between two serviceberries, downy serviceberry (A. arborea) and Allegheny serviceberry (A. laevis) can be grown as a large shrub or small tree. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Feb. 2026

Trees commonly grown near utility infrastructure include crepe myrtle, redbud, Japanese maple, dogwood, and serviceberry. —Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 25 Feb. 2026

One of his favorite plants, the serviceberry, is commonly used in North American landscaping. —Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

service entry 4 + berry entry 1

Note: Note that the name serviceberry refers to a North American plant (Amelanchier) of a different genus than the plant denoted by service in Europe (genus Sorbus).

First Known Use

1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for serviceberry

• accretionary
• apothecary
• bicentenary
• certiorari
• concessionary
• concretionary
• confectionary
• confectionery
• constabulary
• contemporary
• deflationary
• depositary

Kids Definition

serviceberry

noun

ser·​vice·​ber·​ry ˈsər-vəs-ˌber-ē 

also ˈsär-

1

: any of various North American trees or shrubs related to the roses that are sometimes grown for their showy white flowers and edible purplish to red fruit

called also Juneberry, shadbush

2

: the fruit of a serviceberry