holly

noun

hol·​ly ˈhä-lē 

plural hollies

1

: any of a genus (Ilex of the family Aquifoliaceae, the holly family) of trees and shrubs

especially : either of two (I. opaca of the eastern U.S. and I. aquifolium of Eurasia) with spiny-margined evergreen leaves and usually red berries often used for Christmas decorations

2

: the foliage or branches of the holly

Examples of holly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

All-purpose fertilizers for evergreens Products labeled specifically for hollies, azaleas, and evergreen shrubs are low in nitrogen and have a balanced NPK ratio (4-3-4). —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2025

Other types of evergreens — including boxwoods (Buxus microphylla), bugleweed (Ajuga sp.), lenten rose (Helleborus sp.) and holly (Ilex sp.) — also possess adaptations that protect their leaves from damage from freezing temperatures. —Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2025

Lottie, a Canadian sociology student, arrives in Paris and notices a sprig of holly on her hotel door. —Laurence Scott, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025

Portions of my dwarf yaupon hollies are turning brown. —Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English holin, holly, from Old English holen; akin to Old High German hulis holly, Middle Irish cuilenn

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing holly

• California holly
• English holly
• sea holly

Rhymes for holly

• colley
• collie
• dolly
• folly
• golly
• jolley
• jolly
• lolly
• mollie
• molly
• ollie
• polly

Kids Definition

holly

noun

hol·​ly ˈhäl-ē 

plural hollies

1

: either of two trees or shrubs of which one is found in the eastern U.S. and the other in Eurasia and which have evergreen leaves with spiny margins and usually bright red berries

2

: the leaves, berries, and branches of the holly

Medical Definition

holly

see sea holly