woody

1 of 2

adjective

ˈwu̇-dē 

woodier; woodiest

1

: abounding or overgrown with woods

2

a

: of or containing wood or wood fibers : ligneous

woody tissues

b

: having woody parts : rich in xylem and associated structures

woody plants

3

: characteristic of or suggestive of wood

wine with a woody flavor

woodiness noun

woody

2 of 2

noun

ˈwu̇-dē 

variants or woodie

plural woodies

: a wood-paneled station wagon

Examples of woody in a Sentence

Adjective

a woody piece of land

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Basil roots easily in water, while woodier herbs, such as rosemary and lavender, do better when propagated in soil. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 9 May 2025

Those who prefer a slightly woodier scent will love Viktor & Rolf's Good Fortune, an eau de parfum hinted with jasmine, vanilla, and palo santo. —Sarah Han, Allure, 17 July 2024

Noun

Once again, the painting pours onto the sides of the canvas, a technique reserved for a few of the works on view, and a decorative banner crowns the top of the canvas, pierced by the woody stem, as if connecting the natural world with an interior world. —Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025

In a survey of the L.A. River, Pauly and colleagues found plenty of fence lizards in areas with woody shrubs along the riverbanks, as well as on the channel walls. —Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

alteration of wood entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1961, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for woody

• goody
• hoodie

Kids Definition

woody

adjective

ˈwu̇d-ē

woodier; woodiest

1

: having or covered with trees

a woody piece of land

2

: of or containing wood or wood fibers

woody plant tissue

3

: characteristic of or similar to wood

a woody texture