deadwood

American  

[ded-wood] / ˈdɛdˌwʊd /

noun

1. the dead branches on a tree; dead branches or trees.

2. useless or burdensome persons or things.

   He cut the deadwood from his staff.

3. (in writing) unnecessary words, phrases, or exposition; expendable verbiage.

   This could be a thoughtful and incisive essay if you get rid of the deadwood.

4. Nautical. a solid construction, serving only as reinforcement, located between the keel of a vessel and the stem or sternpost.

5. Bowling. pins remaining on the alley after having been knocked down by the ball.

6. Cards.

   1. Rummy. cards in a hand that have not been included in sets and are usually counted as points against the holder.

   2. Poker. cards that have been discarded.

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deadwood British  

/ ˈdɛdˌwʊd /

noun

1. dead trees or branches

2. informal a useless person; encumbrance

3. nautical a filler piece between the keel and the stern of a wooden vessel

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Etymology

Origin of deadwood

First recorded in 1720–30; dead + wood ¹

Example Sentences

Over time, carbon becomes locked in place as sediments build up and deadwood accumulates in beaver-created wetlands.

From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2026

English oaks are losing leaves on the canopy and producing deadwood, he says, and Norway Maple and magnolias are showing signs of stress.

From BBC • Aug. 16, 2025

He will reshape the culture, clear out the deadwood and refine the focus on competition.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 24, 2025

West: A century of firefighting, elimination of Indigenous burning, logging of large fire-resistant trees, and other management practices that allowed small trees, undergrowth and deadwood to choke forests.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 25, 2023

He looked around for deadwood, but the flood had washed most of it away.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Related Words

• unnecessary