koa

noun

ˈkō-ə How to pronounce koa (audio)
1
: a Hawaiian timber tree (Acacia koa) with crescent-shaped phyllodes and pale yellow flowers borne in small round heads
2
: the fine-grained red wood of the koa used especially for furniture

Examples of koa 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.
The office overlooks the river, but the warm and impressive room stands out as much for its shimmering koa wood paneling, master carpenter work and box ceiling than anything else. — David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 15 Feb. 2025 Since 2014, guests have planted more than 50,000 koa trees in the resort’s sustainable forest, which spans over 100 acres and is covered with endemic trees. — Sarah Sekula, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Hawaiian

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of koa was in 1824

Browse Nearby Words

KO
koa
koae
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Cite this Entry

“Koa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/koa. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

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