mahogany
noun
ma·hog·a·ny
mə-ˈhä-gə-nē 
plural mahoganies
1
: the wood of any of various chiefly tropical trees (family Meliaceae, the mahogany family):
a(1)
: the durable yellowish-brown to reddish-brown usually moderately hard and heavy wood of a West Indian tree (Swietenia mahagoni) that is widely used for cabinetwork and fine finish work
(2)
: a wood similar to mahogany from a congeneric tropical American tree (especially S. macrophylla)
b(1)
: the rather hard heavy usually odorless wood of any of several African trees (genus Khaya)
(2)
: the rather lightweight cedar-scented wood of any of several African trees (genus Entandrophragma) that varies in color from pinkish to deep reddish brown
2
: any of various woods resembling or substituted for mahogany obtained from trees of the mahogany family
3
: a tree that yields mahogany
4
: a moderate reddish brown
Examples of mahogany in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Builders like Van Dam and Boesch meanwhile are building more contemporary vessels from mahogany, while Riva, Bertram and Chris-Craft employ subtle 1960s curves as design cues for their fiberglass vessels.
—
Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2025
The living room, encased in dark mahogany panelling, looked onto a drab alleyway filled with trash bins, and the apartment’s two floors were connected by a narrow spiral staircase that risked putting parents in mind of a broken neck.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Its amber base is paired with oud, vanilla bean, mahogany, incense, and cacao, and its leathery top notes evoke hints of a Western aroma with fall spices perfect for every Southern home.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025
Portside Adirondack Chair Adirondack chairs are notoriously pricey, but this one is contract grade, made with moisture-resistant solid mahogany and eucalyptus wood that is durable and well-worth its original value—let alone the sale price.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Oct. 2025
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Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2025
The living room, encased in dark mahogany panelling, looked onto a drab alleyway filled with trash bins, and the apartment’s two floors were connected by a narrow spiral staircase that risked putting parents in mind of a broken neck.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Its amber base is paired with oud, vanilla bean, mahogany, incense, and cacao, and its leathery top notes evoke hints of a Western aroma with fall spices perfect for every Southern home.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2025
Portside Adirondack Chair Adirondack chairs are notoriously pricey, but this one is contract grade, made with moisture-resistant solid mahogany and eucalyptus wood that is durable and well-worth its original value—let alone the sale price.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mahogany
Cite this Entry
“Mahogany.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mahogany. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mahogany
noun
ma·hog·a·ny
mə-ˈhäg-ə-nē
plural mahoganies
1
: the wood of any of various chiefly tropical trees: as
a
: the strong usually reddish brown and heavy wood of a West Indian tree that is widely used to make furniture
b
: any of several African woods that vary in color from pinkish to deep reddish brown
2
: any of various woods resembling or substituted for true mahogany
3
: a tree from which mahogany is obtained
4
: a moderate reddish brown
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