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Definition of mahonia

mahonia

/məˈhoʊ.ni.ə/
ma · ho · ni · a
Plural:mahonias
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mahonia Lexical Profile

mahonia Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of several evergreen shrubs of the barberry family (often classified under the genus Mahonia or Berberis), native to eastern Asia, the Himalayas, and North and Central America, widely cultivated for their leathery, pinnate, holly-like leaves, clusters of yellow flowers, and dark blue or black berries.

Example

"The landscape architect selected a hardy mahonia to provide the garden with dense foliage and bright yellow winter blooms."

• Rhymes for mahonia

• Nearby Words

mahi
mahi-mahi
mahogany
mahonia
maianthemum
maidenhair fern
maidenhair tree

Word Origin & Etymology

Named in 1818 by botanist Thomas Nuttall in honor of Bernard McMahon (c. 1775–1816), an Irish-American horticulturist who curated the plants collected during the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mahonia. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mahonia
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