any of numerous trees or shrubs of the genus Ilex, as I. opaca American holly, the state tree of Delaware, or I. aquifolium English holly, having glossy, spiny-toothed leaves, small, whitish flowers, and red berries.
the foliage and berries, used for decoration, especially during the Christmas season.
Buddy Charles Hardin Holley, 1936–59, U.S. rock and roll singer and guitarist.
a female or male given name.
any tree or shrub of the genus Ilex, such as the Eurasian I. aquifolium, having bright red berries and shiny evergreen leaves with prickly edges
branches of any of these trees, used for Christmas decorations
another name for holm oak
What does holly mean? Holly is a plant (tree or shrub) known for its bright red berries and its glossy, prickly-edged evergreen leaves. There are many varieties of holly, all of which belong to the genus Ilex. Most people are familiar with the common varieties of decorative holly, including American holly (scientific name Ilex opaca) and English holly (Ilex aquifolium)In many places, holly is associated with wintertime and particularly with the Christmas season. (Some varieties of holly are known as winterberry.) During this season, holly branches are popularly used in decorations such as wreaths. Although holly plants are not especially known for their flowers (which are small and white), holly is one of the December birth flowers (a flower that’s associated with a particular month in the same way as a birthstone). American holly is the state tree of Delaware. Holly is also a given name, most traditionally a feminine one. Example: I just love the look of a real holly wreath on the door—it’s so festive!
before 1150; Middle English holi ( e ), holyn, Old English hole ( g ) n; cognate with Welsh celyn, Irish cuillean; akin to Dutch, German hulst, French houx (< Old High German hulis )
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A decorated tree and sleigh greeted guests at the entrance to the country house which had holly, ivy, mistletoe and lanterns hung throughout.
From BBC ● Jan. 12, 2025
Butterfly Conservation said it was the worst year recorded for the common blue, holly blue, green-veined white, small white, small tortoiseshell, painted lady and Scotch argus.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2024
The halls are decked with boughs of holly.
From Salon ● Dec. 17, 2023
Cut off the bows and weave in sprigs of juniper, holly and eucalyptus to make the garland look fuller and more varied.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 8, 2023
But there was nothing green at that time of year but the needles on the pine trees and the leaves on the holly, neither of which a mouse—or any other animal, fort hat matter—can eat.
From "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien
Dr. Holly Lofton, an obesity-medicine specialist at NYU Langone Health in New York, said she has written far more prescriptions for the Wegovy pill than for Foundayo, primarily because of the larger reported weight loss.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
"It's something that we see guests actively asking for," agrees Holly Willcocks, owner of Half Cut wine bar in Kentish Town, London.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
Holly Williams, a foreign correspondent working out of Istanbul for CBS News since 2012, and Mariana van Zeller, a journalist for National Geographic Channel, are both said to remain in contention.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
With a second Sphere residency kicking off this month, Chesney sat down with his memoir co-author Holly Gleason to talk about writing the book, his life and what’s ahead.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
“Some along the back wall and scattered in aisles three, four, and six,” Holly answered with a wave of her hand.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
In 1839, Smith reported to the Linnean Society of London that he could grow new plants from the seeds of the hollies.
From Science Magazine ● May 17, 2023
Yet there are less imposing hollies to choose from that make fine additions to the garden while supplying festive fodder.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 10, 2022
The same-species part isn’t a strict rule, as sometimes bees pollinate different holly species if they flower at the same time, but to be sure your hollies bear fruit, plant a same-species male nearby.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 10, 2022
While torches of red fill one side, berry-laden foster hollies line the opposite.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 19, 2017
Over the years, I’ve learned that botanists—those lucky souls who study the lives of plants all day—call some trees, such as hollies and willows, “dioecious,” which means they have separate male and female trees.
From "Wishtree" by Katherine Applegate
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
