vegetation

noun

veg·​e·​ta·​tion ˌve-jə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce vegetation (audio)
Synonyms of vegetation
1
: plant life or total plant cover (as of an area)
2
: the act or process of vegetating
3
: inert existence
4
: an abnormal growth upon a body part
fibrin vegetations on the mitral valve
vegetational
ˌve-jə-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce vegetation (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of vegetation

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Examples of vegetation in a Sentence

the dense vegetation of the jungle the local vegetation is flourishing as a result of the recent rains
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.
Nestled just to the southwest of downtown Dallas, Oak Cliff Nature Preserve is a 121-acre sanctuary with thick, overgrown vegetation and dirt paths to remind you that there is still plenty of natural beauty in this overgrown concrete jungle. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026 As of the summer of 2026, there is no evidence of vegetation or animal life on Mars. — Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 Firefighters in Solano County are on the scene after a vegetation fire broke out east of Vacaville Tuesday afternoon. — Tim Fang, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 In fact, just days earlier, the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel had slammed the coastline and dumped rain over the region — although not enough to significantly moisten the bone-dry vegetation. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vegetation

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin vegetātiōn-, vegetātiō "power of growth," going back to Latin, "act of invigorating," from vegetāre "to impart energy to, invigorate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal nouns — more at vegetate

First Known Use

1564, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of vegetation was in 1564

Rhymes for vegetation

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Browse Nearby Words

vegetate
vegetation
vegetational
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

vegetation

noun
veg·​e·​ta·​tion ˌvej-ə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce vegetation (audio)
1
: the act or process of vegetating
2
: dull or inactive living
a life of tranquil vegetation
3
: plant life or cover (as of an area)

Medical Definition

vegetation

noun
veg·​e·​ta·​tion ˌvej-ə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce vegetation (audio)
: an abnormal outgrowth upon a body part
specifically : any of the warty excrescences on the valves of the heart that are composed of various tissue elements including fibrin and collagen and that are typical of endocarditis
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