hardwood

American  

[hahrd-wood] / ˈhɑrdˌwʊd /

noun

1. the hard, compact wood or timber of various trees, as the oak, cherry, maple, or mahogany.

2. a tree yielding such wood.

---

adjective

1. made or constructed of hardwood.

   a hardwood floor.

hardwood British  

/ ˈhɑːdˌwʊd /

noun

1. the wood of any of numerous broad-leaved dicotyledonous trees, such as oak, beech, ash, etc, as distinguished from the wood of a conifer

2. any tree from which this wood is obtained

---

hardwood Scientific  

/ härd′wd′ /

1. A eudicot or magnoliid tree, especially as distinguished from a coniferous, or softwood, tree.

2. The wood of a eudicot or magnoliid tree. Hardwoods are in general harder than softwood. However, some hardwoods, such as basswood, are comparatively soft, while some softwoods, such as yew, are comparatively hard.

---

Etymology

Origin of hardwood

First recorded in 1560–70; hard + wood ¹

Example Sentences

Just two years ago, they were among the worst teams ever to set foot on the hardwood, an abject disaster that once lost 28 games in a row.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

The dense and heavy tropical hardwood is prized for its remarkable properties such as rot and salt resistance, as well as its beauty and as a symbol of status and prestige.

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2026

Chevron-patterned hardwood flooring was accessorized with a patterned rug at the center of the space, while a large wooden side table with a lamp was seen next to one arm of the couch.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 15, 2026

I have already invested about $20,000 into the house, including putting on a new roof and refinishing the existing hardwood floors.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 12, 2026

She was kneeling on the hardwood in the living room, plucking pine needles one after another from the tree skirt, an antique lace one that my mother had loved.

From "The Miseducation of Cameron Post" by emily m. danforth

Related Words

• forest
• sapling
• seedling
• shrub
• timber
• wood