driftwood

noun

drift·​wood ˈdrift-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce driftwood (audio)
1
: wood drifted or floated by water
2
: flotsam sense 2

Examples of driftwood in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Natural accents—fringed linen napkins, seashell snack dishes, even bits of driftwood—add some dimension and interest. — Sarah Halverson, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026 For centuries, the only wood suitable for building houses on the island was the driftwood that washed up from shipwrecks and distant forests. — Amelia Soth, JSTOR Daily, 15 July 2026 In a place where many homes lean into glass, driftwood tones and a conventional layout, this one sprawls like a resort, with sleeping quarters separated into individual pavilion-like structures. — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 29 June 2026 Floating on a piece of driftwood, the prince is an easy target for the Triarchy’s arrows. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for driftwood

Word History

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of driftwood was in 1633

Rhymes for driftwood

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Browse Nearby Words

driftwind
driftwood
drifty
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Driftwood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/driftwood. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

driftwood

noun
drift·​wood ˈdrift-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce driftwood (audio)
: wood drifted or floated by water

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