pachysandra

noun

pach·​y·​san·​dra ˌpa-ki-ˈsan-drə How to pronounce pachysandra (audio)
: any of a genus (Pachysandra) of perennial evergreen plants of the box family often used as a ground cover

Examples of pachysandra 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.
Semi-evergreen ground covers often seen in Chicago-area yards include periwinkle (Vinca minor), English ivy (Hedera helix), wintercreeper (Euonymous fortunei), Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis), bugleweed (Ajuga reptans) and liriope (Liriope spicata). — Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 20 Nov. 2021 Conventionally, grass is replaced with a wide area of a single ground cover, such as pachysandra, myrtle, or liriope. — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2022

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, irregular from Greek pachys + New Latin -andrus -androus

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pachysandra was in 1914

Rhymes for pachysandra

See All Rhymes for pachysandra

Browse Nearby Words

Pachyrhizus
pachysandra
Pachystima
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pachysandra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pachysandra. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All