redwood

noun

red·​wood ˈred-ˌwu̇d 

1

: any of various woods (such as brazilwood) yielding a red dye

2

: a tree that yields a red dyewood or produces red or reddish wood

3

a

: a very tall coniferous tree (Sequoia sempervirens) of the cypress family that grows chiefly in coastal California, sometimes reaches a height of 360 feet (110 meters), and is a commercially important timber tree

called also coast redwood

see cone illustration compare dawn redwood

b

: its brownish-red durable wood

Examples of redwood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Seed Studio Landscape Design added a redwood privacy fence around the periphery of this Northern California property that echoes trees in the backyard and complements this dark gray midcentury modern home. —Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026

This charming town of under 5,000 people is dotted with towering coastal redwoods and is known for its easy access to the peacefully flowing waters of the Russian River. —Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2026

The 280 parks in the state system, a network of landscapes that includes towering redwood forests, sandy beaches, Lake Tahoe shoreline and Big Sur oceanfront, will grow to 283. —Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026

Their plan for the lot is to remove the concrete and create a small redwood forest, a community garden and greenhouse, a playground, and an amphitheater. —John Ramos, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing redwood

• coast redwood
• dawn redwood

Rhymes for redwood

• allgood
• basswood
• beechwood
• bellwood
• birchwood
• boxwood
• boyhood
• brushwood
• childhood
• cordwood
• dogwood
• driftwood

Kids Definition

redwood

noun

red·​wood ˈred-ˌwu̇d 

: a tall cone-producing evergreen tree mostly of coastal California that is related to the bald cypresses and sometimes grows to be 360 feet (110 meters) tall

also : its light long-lasting brownish red wood