forsythia

[ fawr-sith-ee-uh, -sahy-thee-uh, fer- ]

/ fɔrˈsɪθ i ə, -ˈsaɪ θi ə, fər- /

Save This Word!

noun

a shrub belonging to the genus Forsythia, of the olive family, native to China and southeastern Europe, species of which are cultivated for their showy yellow flowers, which blossom on the bare branches in early spring.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of forsythia

<New Latin, after William Forsyth (1737–1804), English horticulturist; see -ia

Words nearby forsythia

Forstner bit, for sure, forswear, forsworn, Forsyth, forsythia, fort, Fortaleza, fortalice, Fortas, Fort Belvoir

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use forsythia in a sentence

First came the forsythia, in welcome yellow delicacy all over the city, and here and there about the grounds.
Betty Lee, Freshman|David Goodger (goodger@python.org)
Forsythia blooms in April with masses of yellow flowers; moderate, quick growth; seldom over six feet high.
A Woman's Hardy Garden|Helena Rutherfurd Ely
Cherry, Apple, Forsythia, and other blossoming trees and shrubs can be thus forced to bloom.
Outlines of Lessons in Botany, Part I; From Seed to Leaf|Jane H. Newell
The weigela, forsythia, and spiræa are also excellent shrubs.
Ontario Teachers' Manuals: Household Science in Rural Schools|Ministry of Education Ontario

Yellow bells from the wands of circling forsythia bushes drop into a deep hollow lined with velvet grass.
Minstrel Weather|Marian Storm

British Dictionary definitions for forsythia

forsythia

/ (fɔːˈsaɪθɪə) /

noun

any oleaceous shrub of the genus Forsythia, native to China, Japan, and SE Europe but widely cultivated for its showy yellow bell-shaped flowers, which appear in spring before the foliage

Word Origin for forsythia

C19: New Latin, named after William Forsyth (1737–1804), English botanist

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012