1
: any of various woods (such as brazilwood) yielding a red dye
2
: a tree that yields a red dyewood or produces red or reddish wood
3
a
: a very tall coniferous tree (Sequoia sempervirens) of the cypress family that grows chiefly in coastal California, sometimes reaches a height of 360 feet (110 meters), and is a commercially important timber tree

called also coast redwood

see cone illustration compare dawn redwood
b
: its brownish-red durable wood

Examples of redwood 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.
Canvas roofs and redwood beams brought natural materials into the mix, while Wright continued to expand the property over the years to include his personal office and living quarters, residences for apprentices and staff, theaters, and a workshop. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2026 More than 12% of Oakland is designated as parkland, giving visitors opportunities to spend time outdoors, from walking around Lake Merritt to hiking among the towering redwoods in the Oakland Hills. — Bailey Berg, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2026 On his drive through Northern California, Clark marveled at the redwood trees and wondered how the trees -- some of which might be 2,000 years old -- lived so much longer than humans. — Kyle Melnick The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026 Mendocino County’s Skunk Train has added The Noyo, an adults-only cocktail lounge on rails, offering a two-hour, 16-mile round trip from Willits through redwood country. — Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for redwood

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of redwood was circa 1533

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Cite this Entry

“Redwood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/redwood. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

: a tall cone-producing evergreen tree mostly of coastal California that is related to the bald cypresses and sometimes grows to be 360 feet (110 meters) tall
also : its light long-lasting brownish red wood

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