winterberry
noun
win·ter·ber·ry
ˈwin-tər-ˌber-ē 
1
: an eastern North American shrub (Ilex verticillata) of the holly family with axillary flowers, usually bright red berries, and deciduous leaves that turn black in the fall
called also black alder
2
: any of several congeneric shrubs or small trees (such as Ilex laevigata of the eastern U.S.)
Examples of winterberry in a Sentence
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They were seated at a table located next to a window that faced directly into a ratty winterberry shrub and beyond that, out across the parking lot.
—
Literary Hub, 25 Feb. 2026
Putting a few stems of winterberry in a vase with some additional greenery can create a nice addition to your dining room table, too.
—Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2025
Wild birds rely on winterberry plants for food when snow covers the ground.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Nov. 2025
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Literary Hub, 25 Feb. 2026
Putting a few stems of winterberry in a vase with some additional greenery can create a nice addition to your dining room table, too.
—Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2025
Wild birds rely on winterberry plants for food when snow covers the ground.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Winterberry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/winterberry. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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