hardwood

1 of 2

noun

hard·​wood ˈhärd-ˌwu̇d 

1

: the wood of an angiospermous tree as distinguished from that of a coniferous tree

2

: a tree that yields hardwood

3

: a basketball court

hardwood

2 of 2

adjective

1

: having or made of hardwood

hardwood floors

2

: consisting of mature woody tissue

hardwood cuttings

Examples of hardwood in a Sentence

Noun

They used expensive hardwoods for the flooring.

oaks, maples, and other hardwoods

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Original hardwood floors continue into a dining room with its own floral-print wallpaper. —Angela Serratore, New York Times, 14 May 2025

The high-ceilinged space, with its columns, chandeliers, hardwood floors, and windows on two sides, was designed by McKim, Mead & White for a company that once ran New York’s streetcars. —Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 13 May 2025

Adjective

This prewar one-bedroom in a Lenox Hill co-op has nice features, as shown in listing photos, like a wood-burning fireplace in the living room, built-in shelving, and hardwood floors, but it hasn’t been recently renovated. —Kim Velsey, Curbed, 13 May 2025

Inside, four bedrooms and seven baths are spread across roughly 6,200 square feet of three-level living space boasting a mix of tile, stone, and hardwood floors paired with soaring wood-beam ceilings. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 8 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1767, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hardwood

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

Kids Definition

hardwood

1 of 2 noun

hard·​wood ˈhär-ˌdwu̇d 

1

: the wood of a tree (as an oak or maple) producing flowers and having usually broad leaves as compared to the wood of a tree bearing cones and having needlelike leaves compare softwood sense 1

2

: a tree that yields hardwood

hardwood

2 of 2 adjective

1

: having or made of hardwood

2

: consisting of mature woody tissue

a hardwood cutting