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

• woodenly adverb
• woodenness noun

Etymology

Origin of wooden

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

Example Sentences

A wooden galleon of Espiritu Santo's size would have required 800 trees that could now only be found in the forests of Myanmar, said Quezon.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

I remember me and my staff just being sat on two old wooden benches on the touchline.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Scenic designer Alex Mollo has worked out an efficient way of shifting between these realms by employing the same set of wooden trunks.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

Once they step inside, they are met with an elegant foyer that features a chic wooden staircase, high ceilings, and a sparkling chandelier.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

Tomato sauce flies off her wooden spoon, splattering the chipped yellow cabinets.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller