vegetation

noun

veg·​e·​ta·​tion ˌve-jə-ˈtā-shən 

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

 

adjective

Synonyms

• foliage
• flora

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

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

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

Rhymes for vegetation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

vegetation

noun

veg·​e·​ta·​tion ˌvej-ə-ˈtā-shən 

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 

: 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