hazel

1 of 2

noun

ha·​zel ˈhā-zəl 

1

: any of a genus (Corylus and especially the American C. americana and the European C. avellana) of shrubs or small trees of the birch family bearing nuts enclosed in a leafy involucre

2

: a light brown to strong yellowish brown

hazel

2 of 2

adjective

1

: consisting of hazels or of the wood of the hazel

2

a

: of the color hazel

b

of eyes : of a variable color averaging light greenish-grayish brown

Examples of hazel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Witch hazel and barrier products such as zinc oxide, mineral oil, or petrolatum may soothe irritated skin. —Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 29 Apr. 2026

More broadly, the pollen came from a diverse group of environments, including forests of holly oak and pine,shrublands with olive and hazel trees, areas with alder and ash trees, and regions with fir and beech trees. —Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 24 Apr. 2026

Adjective

According to a police report, a female student was playing on the playground during morning recess when a light-skinned man with hazel eyes in a ski mask spoke to her from a gray, scratched-up minivan. —Kristina Rex, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026

She is described as a White woman with blonde hair and hazel eyes, who is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 120 lbs. —Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English hasel, from Old English hæsel; akin to Old High German hasal hazel, Latin corulus

First Known Use

Noun

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

Adjective

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

Phrases Containing hazel

• hazel dormouse
• hazel hen
• hazel mouse
• witch hazel

Rhymes for hazel

• nasal
• phrasal
• appraisal
• intranasal
• reappraisal

Kids Definition

hazel

noun

ha·​zel

ˈhā-zəl

1

: any of a genus of shrubs or small trees related to birches and bearing edible nuts enclosed in a leafy case

2

: a light brown to a strong yellowish brown

hazel adjective