wooden

American  

[wood-n] / ˈwʊd n /

adjective

1. consisting or made of wood.

   a wooden ship.

2. stiff, ungainly, or awkward.

   a wooden gait.

3. without spirit, animation, or awareness.

   Synonyms:

   impassive, lifeless, vacant, expressionless

4. dull or stupid.

5. indicating the fifth event of a series, as a wedding anniversary.

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wooden British  

/ ˈwʊdən /

adjective

1. made from or consisting of wood

2. awkward or clumsy

3. bereft of spirit or animation

   a wooden expression

4. obstinately unyielding

   a wooden attitude

5. mentally slow or dull

6. not highly resonant

   a wooden thud

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verb

1. slang (tr) to fell or kill (a person or animal)

Other Word Forms

• woodenness
  noun
• woodenly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of wooden

First recorded in 1530–40; wood ¹ + -en ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wooden

In particular, birch tar would have helped them attach stone blades or points to wooden handles, a technique known as hafting.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026

A few steps into the first event, an obstacle course, I whacked my knee on a large wooden box we were supposed to climb over.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

It also provides direct access to a sandy beach with a wooden staircase situated around the back of the house.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026

He was followed by Palfrey carrying a wooden stick, which one witness thought might have had a nail in it.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

Betsie’s finger traced a pattern on the wooden sink worn smooth by generations of ten Booms.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom