forsythia

noun

for·​syth·​ia fər-ˈsi-thē-ə How to pronounce forsythia (audio)
 chiefly British  -ˈsī-
plural forsythias also forsythia
: any of a genus (Forsythia) of ornamental shrubs of the olive family with opposite leaves and yellow bell-shaped flowers appearing before the leaves in early spring

Illustration of forsythia

Illustration of forsythia

Examples of forsythia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Purple blossoms furred the redbuds along his driveway; here and there beneath them were sprays of yellow forsythia. Jamie Quatro, Harper's Magazine, 2 Aug. 2024 Pruning dogwood, forsythia, azaleas, and rhododendrons now will mean fewer flowers in the spring. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Dec. 2024 Trimming back your forsythia yearly can help prevent its unruly spread. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024 Pruning is necessary to control your fast-growing forsythia. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for forsythia 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from William Forsyth †1804 British botanist

First Known Use

circa 1814, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of forsythia was circa 1814

Dictionary Entries Near forsythia

Cite this Entry

“Forsythia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forsythia. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

forsythia

noun
for·​syth·​ia fər-ˈsith-ē-ə How to pronounce forsythia (audio)
plural forsythias also forsythia
: any of a genus of shrubs related to the olive and having yellow bell-shaped flowers appearing before the leaves in early spring

More from Merriam-Webster on forsythia

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