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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of deadwood

First recorded in 1720–30; dead + wood ¹

Example Sentences

Across the full year, however, the buildup of sediments, plant matter, and deadwood resulted in significant net carbon storage.

From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2026

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

Through photosynthesis, carbon transforms into biomass, which eventually dies and becomes leaf litter or deadwood.

From National Geographic • Oct. 12, 2023

He said it was part of an exercise to "cut the deadwood out of the police force".

From BBC • May 17, 2023

He sets to work pruning the deadwood like a sculptor.

From "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Related Words

• unnecessary