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Definition of american holly
american holly
Plural:american hollies
american holly Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American A broadleaf evergreen tree (Ilex opaca) native to the eastern and south-central United States, distinguished by its stiff, spiny dark green leaves and bright red berries.
Example
"During the holiday season, many families gather branches of the American holly to weave into festive wreaths for their front doors."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for american holly• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Named for its native geographic range in North America, to distinguish it from the closely related European holly (Ilex aquifolium). The word 'holly' itself derives from the Old English 'holeġn'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of American holly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/american holly