driftwood

American  

[drift-wood] / ˈdrɪftˌwʊd /

noun

1. wood floating on a body of water or cast ashore by it.

2. such wood adapted for use in interior decoration.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or made of driftwood.

   a driftwood lamp.

driftwood British  

/ ˈdrɪftˌwʊd /

noun

1. wood floating on or washed ashore by the sea or other body of water

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Etymology

Origin of driftwood

First recorded in 1605–15; drift + wood ¹

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Explanation

Those smooth sticks and logs you see washed up on the beach are known as driftwood. They've been worn by the motion of the water over time. You can find driftwood on the shore of oceans, lakes, and rivers, where it's been tossed by the tide or blown by the wind. While driftwood is officially a type of debris or trash, it's often quite lovely, smoothed into interesting shapes by the water. Driftwood can originate from shipwrecks, rotted pilings, or trees that have been washed into the sea by storms. As it decomposes, beached ocean driftwood often forms the foundation of sand dunes.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

driftwood

Soldiers and police had helped clear the debris and driftwood.

From Barron's ● Dec. 25, 2025

In the midst of this waits Moonstone Beach, often strewn with driftwood, and Moonstone Beach Drive, which is lined by about a dozen inns and boutique hotels.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 1, 2025

"Coming into a world where you are not as accepted, you are a bit like driftwood," he said.

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2024

Spend your day exploring tide pools and your evening around a driftwood fire.

From Seattle Times ● May 24, 2024

They gathered driftwood and stacked it and covered it with the tarp and then set off down the beach.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

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Related Words

• chunk
• piece
• timber
• wood

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