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poison ivy

American

noun

a vine or shrub, Rhus radicans, having trifoliate leaves and whitish berries and causing severe dermatitis when touched by persons sensitive to it.
poison oak.
the rash caused by touching poison ivy.

poison ivy British

noun

any of several North American anacardiaceous shrubs or vines of the genus Rhus (or Toxicodendron ), esp R. radicans, which has small green flowers and whitish berries that cause an itching rash on contact See also sumach

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of poison ivy

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

What about snakes and ticks and poison ivy?

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

We covered about 150 miles in all, crossing creeks, dodging rattlesnakes and poison ivy, climbing up and around switchbacks.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2024

Natural healers promote oats to help soothe the skin from skin ailments including itchiness, dryness, oiliness, eczema, dermatitis, bug bites, and poison ivy.

From National Geographic • Feb. 7, 2024

Worse, most people don't know poison ivy when they see it.

From Science Daily • Jan. 30, 2024

The woods are dense, with thickets and patches of poison ivy that we have to make our way around.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023