deadwood

noun

dead·​wood ˈded-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce deadwood (audio)
1
: wood dead on the tree
2
: useless personnel or material
3
: solid timbers built in at the extreme bow and stern of a ship when too narrow to permit framing
4
: bowling pins that have been knocked down but remain on the alley

Examples of deadwood in a Sentence

She's determined to get the deadwood out of the company. a healthy tree with no deadwood
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.
But deadwood—and the biodiversity associated with it—has severely declined in many forests worldwide. Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025 The deadwood was cleared off the roster. Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025 Others are tallying deadwood’s roles in recycling organic matter and stabilizing the global climate. Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025 Bit by bit, deadwood is decomposed, feeding new life along the way. Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deadwood

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deadwood was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deadwood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deadwood. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

deadwood

noun
dead·​wood -ˌwu̇d How to pronounce deadwood (audio)
1
: wood that is dead on a tree
2
: useless material or unproductive persons

Geographical Definition

Deadwood

geographical name

Dead·​wood ˈded-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce Deadwood (audio)
city in the Black Hills of western South Dakota that was settled circa 1876 following the discovery of gold nearby population 1270

More from Merriam-Webster on deadwood

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!