deciduous
adjective
de·cid·u·ous
di-ˈsi-jə-wəs 
-jü-əs
1
biology
: falling off or shed seasonally or at a certain stage of development in the life cycle
deciduous leaves
deciduous scales
2
biology
a
: having deciduous parts
maples, birches, and other deciduous trees
deciduous dentition
b
: having the dominant plants deciduous
a deciduous forest
3
: ephemeral
There is much that is deciduous in books …—
J. R. Lowell
J. R. Lowell
deciduousness
noun
Examples of deciduous in a Sentence
the bare branches of a deciduous tree in winter
he chose not to fret about the deciduous discomforts of his existence
Recent Examples on the Web
Many deciduous ornamentals including redbuds, forsythia, crabapples, fruit trees, quince azaleas and many others were not adversely affected by last summer’s drought and the cold, windy winter and frozen soils that followed.
—Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 10 May 2025
Feed stone fruits, apples and other deciduous fruit trees with organic fruit tree fertilizer.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
In these cases, certain deciduous shrubs and trees can still be effective choices.
—Debbie Wolfe, Popular Science, 8 May 2025
Evergreen shrubs provide year-round privacy, while deciduous shrubs add ornamental traits such as flowers and fall foliage.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for deciduous
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Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 10 May 2025
Feed stone fruits, apples and other deciduous fruit trees with organic fruit tree fertilizer.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
In these cases, certain deciduous shrubs and trees can still be effective choices.
—Debbie Wolfe, Popular Science, 8 May 2025
Evergreen shrubs provide year-round privacy, while deciduous shrubs add ornamental traits such as flowers and fall foliage.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for deciduous
Cite this Entry
“Deciduous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deciduous. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deciduous
adjective
de·cid·u·ous
di-ˈsij-ə-wəs
1
: falling off (as at the end of a growing period or stage of development)
antlers are deciduous
deciduous leaves
2
: having deciduous parts or members with deciduous parts
deciduous trees
a deciduous forest
Medical Definition
deciduous
adjective
de·cid·u·ous
di-ˈsij-ə-wəs
1
: falling off or shed at a certain stage in the life cycle
2
: having deciduous parts
a deciduous dentition
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