woodland

¹ American  

[wood-land, -luhnd, wood-luhnd] / ˈwʊdˌlænd, -lənd, ˈwʊd lənd /

noun

1. land covered with woods or trees.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or inhabiting the woods; sylvan.

   a woodland nymph.

Woodland ² American  

[wood-luhnd] / ˈwʊd lənd /

noun

1. a city in N central California.

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woodland British  

/ ˈwʊdlənd /

noun

1. 1. land that is mostly covered with woods or dense growths of trees and shrubs

   2. ( as modifier )

      woodland fauna

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Other Word Forms

• woodlander noun

Etymology

Origin of woodland

before 900; Old English wuduland. See wood ¹, land

Explanation

Woodland is a natural habitat with many plants and trees. Therefore, a zebra would not be considered a woodland animal, but a deer would fit the bill. You can use woodland as a noun, or as an adjective to describe things that have something to do with this particular kind of land, like woodland animals or a woodland habitat. Woodlands usually feature trees, grasses, shrubs, and other plants. If you're walking in the woods and the trees almost completely block the sunlight, you're in a forest, not a woodland. The Old English version was wudulond.

Example Sentences

Andy Gaunt, director of community interest company Mercian Archaeology Services, explained Sherwood Forest was a royal hunting area made up of woodland and heath, with well-used routes and small settlements within it.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

Other sessions are planned, including on water pollution, while a visit to Fontainebleau woodland south of Paris is also scheduled Thursday as part of a session dedicated to forests.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

Over the last six months, Severn Rivers Trust said it had created 22 new ponds, restored three hectares of wetland habitat and more than 10 hectares of woodland.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

Their findings show that temperate woodland species, including oak, elm, and hazel, were present much earlier than suggested by pollen records from Britain.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2026

Curious, then, that both were spotted laughing it up at Duboise’s sprawling woodland estate.

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston

Related Words

• forest
• timberland
• wood