forsythia

noun

for·​syth·​ia fər-ˈsi-thē-ə 

 chiefly British  -ˈsī-

plural forsythias also forsythia

: any of a genus (Forsythia) of ornamental shrubs of the olive family with opposite leaves and yellow bell-shaped flowers appearing before the leaves in early spring

Illustration of forsythia

Examples of forsythia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On some kinds of shrubs with long, arching canes and few side branches, such as forsythia, the longest stems will usually be the oldest and thickest. —Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025

Purple blossoms furred the redbuds along his driveway; here and there beneath them were sprays of yellow forsythia. —Jamie Quatro, Harper's Magazine, 2 Aug. 2024

Pruning dogwood, forsythia, azaleas, and rhododendrons now will mean fewer flowers in the spring. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Dec. 2024

Trimming back your forsythia yearly can help prevent its unruly spread. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from William Forsyth †1804 British botanist

First Known Use

circa 1814, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

forsythia

noun

for·​syth·​ia fər-ˈsith-ē-ə 

plural forsythias also forsythia

: any of a genus of shrubs related to the olive and having yellow bell-shaped flowers appearing before the leaves in early spring