vegetation

noun

veg·​e·​ta·​tion ˌve-jə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce vegetation (audio)
1
: plant life or total plant cover (as of an area)
2
: the act or process of vegetating
3
: inert existence
4
: an abnormal growth upon a body part
fibrin vegetations on the mitral valve
vegetational
ˌve-jə-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nəl
 How to pronounce vegetation (audio)
adjective

Examples of vegetation in a Sentence

the dense vegetation of the jungle the local vegetation is flourishing as a result of the recent rains
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.
Just before midnight, firefighters responded to a 10-acre vegetation fire in Roseville next to West Park High School, the Roseville Police Department said in a Facebook post. Chris Biderman july 5, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2025 Chains used for towing trailers are a common cause of roadside wildfires because metal dragging on asphalt can spark and ignite dry vegetation. John Leos, AZCentral.com, 3 July 2025 Avoid outdoor activities that can cause a spark near dry vegetation, such as yard work, target shooting, or campfires. Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025 Bond Road also showed evidence of ingredients of two herbicides used to kill vegetation in the Vietnam War, a 1984 contractor’s report to Monsanto said. Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for vegetation

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin vegetātiōn-, vegetātiō "power of growth," going back to Latin, "act of invigorating," from vegetāre "to impart energy to, invigorate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal nouns — more at vegetate

First Known Use

1564, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of vegetation was in 1564

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vegetation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vegetation. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

vegetation

noun
veg·​e·​ta·​tion ˌvej-ə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce vegetation (audio)
1
: the act or process of vegetating
2
: dull or inactive living
a life of tranquil vegetation
3
: plant life or cover (as of an area)

Medical Definition

vegetation

noun
veg·​e·​ta·​tion ˌvej-ə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce vegetation (audio)
: an abnormal outgrowth upon a body part
specifically : any of the warty excrescences on the valves of the heart that are composed of various tissue elements including fibrin and collagen and that are typical of endocarditis

More from Merriam-Webster on vegetation

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