rhododendron

noun

rho·​do·​den·​dron ˌrō-də-ˈden-drən 

: any of a genus (Rhododendron) of widely cultivated shrubs and trees of the heath family with alternate leaves and showy flowers

especially : one with leathery evergreen leaves as distinguished from a deciduous azalea

Illustration of rhododendron

Examples of rhododendron in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The alpine plant is a member of the rhododendron family and produces similar pinkish-reddish-purplish flowers. —Ashlea Halpern, AFAR Media, 6 Mar. 2025

Leaves are thin and small on azaleas while rhododendron foliage is larger, thick, and leathery. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2025

Rocky Gap encompasses more than 3,000 acres of land with sheer cliffs, scenic overlooks, and a hemlock forest concentrated with rhododendrons and mountain laurels. —Trudy Haywood Saunders, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2025

While a Southern garden needn’t have the comprehensive variety of flowers just listed to be an inviting escape, our readers were quick to point out all the brightly hued blossoms that define a Southern garden, naming rhododendrons, lily of the valley, and dahlias as well. —Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 5 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin (linnaeus), going back to Latin, "oleander, a plant of the Black Sea region described by Pliny whose honey is toxic (probably Rhododendron ponticum)," borrowed from Greek rhodódendron, from rhodo- rhodo- + déndron "tree" — more at dendro-

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rhododendron

• elepidote rhododendron
• lepidote rhododendron
• rosebay rhododendron

Rhymes for rhododendron

• endrin

Kids Definition

rhododendron

noun

rho·​do·​den·​dron ˌrōd-ə-ˈden-drən 

: any of a genus of trees and shrubs of the heath family that often have leathery evergreen leaves and showy clusters of yellow, white, pink, red, or purple flowers

Etymology

from scientific Latin rhododendron "rhododendron," derived from Greek rhodon "rose" and Greek dendron "tree"