to·pi·ary
ˈtō-pē-ˌer-ē 
plural topiaries
1
a
: a plant shaped by topiary art
b
: topiary plants
2
: topiary art or gardening
also
: a topiary garden
: of, relating to, or being the practice or art of training, cutting, and trimming trees or shrubs into odd or ornamental shapes
also
: characterized by such work
Examples of topiary in a Sentence
Noun
a garden featuring topiaries and fountains
Recent Examples on the Web
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Nov. 2025
The plant’s free-flowing, natural form is quite lovely; however, these versatile shrubs can also be sheared into formal hedges or topiary, limbed up into a standard form, and otherwise trained.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2025
Janet B. Carson, arkansasonline.com, 2 Dec. 2024
Until recently, there had also been a topiary cat chasing a topiary mouse, but a nearby tree had started dropping branches and killed the cat.
—Sophie Elmhirst, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for topiary
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Noun
In a pot, the small shrub serves as an adorable scented mini Christmas tree or topiary to decorate kitchens or holiday tablescapes.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Nov. 2025
The plant’s free-flowing, natural form is quite lovely; however, these versatile shrubs can also be sheared into formal hedges or topiary, limbed up into a standard form, and otherwise trained.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2025
Adjective
There are small miniatures up to topiary tree-forms and all sizes in between.
—Janet B. Carson, arkansasonline.com, 2 Dec. 2024
Until recently, there had also been a topiary cat chasing a topiary mouse, but a nearby tree had started dropping branches and killed the cat.
—Sophie Elmhirst, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for topiary
Cite this Entry
“Topiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topiary. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
topiary
1 of 2 adjective
to·pi·ary
ˈtō-pē-ˌer-ē
1
a
: relating to or being the art or practice of topiary
b
: shaped or created by topiary
a topiary elephant
2
: characterized by or containing topiary
a topiary garden
topiary
2 of 2 noun
plural topiaries
1
: the art or practice of training and trimming trees or shrubs into odd or ornamental shapes
2
: a garden or park containing plants shaped by topiary
also
: a plant or plants shaped by topiary
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