dogwood

noun

dog·​wood ˈdȯg-ˌwu̇d 

: any of various trees and shrubs (genus Cornus of the family Cornaceae, the dogwood family) with clusters of small flowers and often large white, pink, or red involucral bracts

Examples of dogwood in a Sentence

The furniture is made of dogwood.

Recent Examples on the Web

Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, is known for its captivating dogwood trees and its deep ties to the American Revolution. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2025

Here, the designer selected dogwood branches, letting the lower parts intertwine inside the container to form the structure—like a natural florist frog. —Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025

This zone is characterized by deciduous trees such as dogwood, alder, and aspen surrounded by conifer forest. —Worth Matthewson, Outdoor Life, 2 Oct. 2025

Most of the trees in the valley are evergreen, but there are pops of color from the Pacific dogwoods, black oaks, maples, and other varieties. —Dave Parfitt, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dogwood

• flowering dogwood

Rhymes for dogwood

• allgood
• basswood
• beechwood
• bellwood
• birchwood
• boxwood
• boyhood
• brushwood
• childhood
• cordwood
• driftwood
• falsehood

Kids Definition

dogwood

noun

dog·​wood ˈdȯg-ˌwu̇d 

: any of various trees and shrubs having clusters of small flowers often surrounded by four showy leaves that look like petals

Medical Definition

dogwood

noun

dog·​wood ˈdȯ-ˌgwu̇d 

: any tree or shrub of the genus Cornus