evergreen

American  

[ev-er-green] / ˈɛv ərˌgrin /

adjective

1. (of trees, shrubs, etc.) having green leaves throughout the entire year, the leaves of the past season not being shed until after the new foliage has been completely formed.

2. retaining its relevance, popularity, usefulness, etc.; enduring.

   Some toys are evergreen favorites.

3. Law. (of a contract or contract clause) specifying automatic renewal at the end of the term.

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noun

1. an evergreen plant.

2. evergreens, evergreen twigs or branches used for decoration.

3. something that is evergreen, or enduringly fresh.

   The paper publishes decorating tips or other archived evergreens on slow news days.

evergreen British  

/ ˈɛvəˌɡriːn /

adjective

1. (of certain trees and shrubs) bearing foliage throughout the year; continually shedding and replacing leaves Compare deciduous

2. remaining fresh and vital

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noun

1. an evergreen tree or shrub

evergreen Scientific  

/ ĕv′ər-grēn′ /

1. Having green leaves or needles all year. Evergreen trees lose their leaves individually on an ongoing basis, rather than losing all of them in a short period at the end of a growing season in the manner of deciduous trees.

2. Compare deciduous

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1. An evergreen tree, shrub, or plant, such as the pine, holly, or rhododendron.

Etymology

Origin of evergreen

First recorded in 1545–55; ever + green

Explanation

An evergreen is a tree or plant that doesn't shed its leaves in the winter, but stays green all year. A Christmas tree is an evergreen. Even in the middle of winter, when so many trees in cold climates have bare branches, evergreens brighten up the landscape with vibrant green needles or leaves. Fir trees, holly bushes, and eucalyptus shrubs are all examples of evergreens. You can describe all of them using evergreen as an adjective as well: "I made the wreath using evergreen branches."

Example Sentences

Over three seasons set in three different decades, “The Comeback” has been guided by the constant, evergreen punchline of Lisa Kudrow’s Valerie Cherish not quite getting what’s happening to her career.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026

And the core of that story, a man falsely imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit and eventually driving him insane, is unfortunately pretty evergreen.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

Morningstar and its private-markets-focused PitchBook unit late last year set up benchmarks dedicated to evergreen funds, citing the need for more transparency as their managers seek to attract more individual investors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

They are a mix of fresh and preserved items along with seasonal and evergreen staples.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2026

Their bark was two feet thick, and their shaggy evergreen leaves were high up, where forest fires couldn’t reach them.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Related Words

• fir
• hedge
• pine