foliage

noun

fo·​liage ˈfō-lē-ij 

 also  -lyij;

nonstandard

ˈfō-lij 

 nonstandard  ˈfȯi-lij

1

: a representation of leaves, flowers, and branches for architectural ornamentation

The doorframe was decorated with beautifully carved foliage.

2

: the aggregate of leaves of one or more plants

trees with colorful autumn foliage

3

: a cluster of leaves, flowers, and branches

A wreath of foliage adorned her front door.

foliaged

ˈfō-lē-ijd 

 also  -lyijd;

 nonstandard  ˈfō-lijd

 nonstandard  ˈfȯi-

adjective

How do you pronounce foliage?: Usage Guide

The disyllabic pronunciation \ˈfō-lij\ is very common. Some commentators insist that foliage requires a trisyllabic pronunciation because of its spelling, but words of a similar pattern such as carriage and marriage do not fall under their prescription. The pronunciation \ˈfȯi-lij\ is disapproved because it suggests the transposition of the l and i in the spelling. It is not as common as \ˈfō-lij\ and may be associated with the nonstandard spelling foilage.

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How Do You Pronounce foliage?

Whether you’re a casual leaf peeper or a card-carrying botanist, a staunch New Englander or Caribbean beach bum, there’s plenty to love about foliage—though the pronunciation of foliage has long been a point of contention among English speakers. Most commonly accepted is the trisyllabic \FOH-lee-ij\. However, there’s no denying that the pronunciations \FOH-lij\ and even \FOY-lij\ have also staked their claim. The first of these disputed pronunciations is consistent with the pronunciation of the -iage ending in marriage and carriage. The second is often more fiercely denounced, in part because of its association with the nonstandard spelling foilage. But there’s redemption for this estranged pronunciation: foliage traces back to Middle French foille ("leaf"), which is also the source of the English word foil (as in "aluminum foil"). When adopted by Middle English speakers, foil originally meant "leaf." Love it or leaf it, there’s just no taking the "foil" out of foliage.

Synonyms

• flora
• green
• greenery
• herbage
• leafage
• vegetation
• verdure

Examples of foliage in a Sentence

a tree with pretty foliage

the thick green foliage of the jungle

Recent Examples on the Web

Plus, clients love peeping the foliage behind her during video appointments. —Angela Haupt, TIME, 3 Dec. 2024

Its golden dial, reminiscent of the warm, enveloping hues found in autumn foliage, adds character to the watch, which appears to radiate with a light of its own. —Bhanu Chopra, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

The drive to Boston took me through the best bits of autumn in New England: there were scenes of golden foliage, well-coiffed dogs, and preppy academic types aplenty. —Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Dec. 2024

Cover every surface of foliage on both top and bottom, says Khan. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French fuellage, from foille leaf — more at foil entry 2

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing foliage

• foliage plant

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Kids Definition

foliage

noun

fo·​li·​age

ˈfō-l(ē-)ij,

 also  ˈfōl-yij

: the mass of leaves of a plant

foliaged

-l(ē-)ijd

 also  -yijd

adjective

Etymology

an altered form of earlier foillage "a mass of leaves," from early French fuellage (same meaning), from fuelle, foille "leaf," derived from Latin folium "leaf" — related to foil entry 2, portfolio