ebony

1 of 2

noun

eb·​o·​ny ˈe-bə-nē How to pronounce ebony (audio)
plural ebonies
Synonyms of ebonynext
1
: a hard heavy blackish wood yielded by various tropical chiefly southeast Asian trees (genus Diospyros of the family Ebenaceae, the ebony family)
2
a
: a tree yielding ebony
b
: any of several trees yielding wood like ebony

ebony

2 of 2

adjective

1
: made of or resembling ebony
2
: black, dark

Synonyms

Adjective

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Examples of ebony in a Sentence

Adjective the ebony loudspeakers on their chrome stands look very sleek and modern
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.
Noun
Precious ebony, gemstone mesh bracelets and a matte gold star chain gave a hint of what was to come. — Kate Matthams, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025 The leopard part of the breed has to do with her Dalmatian-like ebony spots and lightly colored coat. — Tj MacIas, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Other significant details in the home include crown moldings, an original mahogany front door, decorative wall coverings and ebony hardwood floors throughout. — Lauryn Azu, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2025 Find it a home with ebony floors and a navy wall that sets it apart in just the right way. — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 20 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for ebony

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably from Late Latin hebeninus of ebony, from Greek ebeninos, from ebenos ebony, from Egyptian hbnj

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ebony was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

ebony
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Cite this Entry

“Ebony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ebony. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

ebony

1 of 2 noun
eb·​o·​ny ˈeb-ə-nē How to pronounce ebony (audio)
plural ebonies
1
: a hard heavy blackish wood of various tropical chiefly southeast Asian trees related to the persimmon
2
: a tree that produces ebony

ebony

2 of 2 adjective
1
: made of or resembling ebony
2
: black entry 1 sense 1

More from Merriam-Webster on ebony

Nglish: Translation of ebony for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ebony

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