: any of a division (Filicophyta) or class (Filicopsida) of flowerless spore-producing vascular plants having alternating sporophyte and gametophyte generations
especially : any of an order (Filicales) of homosporous plants possessing roots, stems, and leaflike fronds compare seed fern
fernlike adjective
ferny adjective

Examples of fern in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Hefty aromas of minestrone soup, forest, cherry drops and ferns. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 Hellebores do well at the edge of a woodland garden with other shade-loving perennials, such as ferns, hostas, gingers, foamflowers, and toad lilies. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2024 Stroll through Windows to the Tropics, a large conservatory in which rare palms, ferns and tropical plants thrive year-round. Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Her metallic lace slip gown was embroidered with sequins, pearls and crystals to look like fern leaves. Jackie Fields, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024 The forms taken by these previously unknown 350 million-year-old plants look somewhat like a modern-day fern or palm, per the study, despite the fact that those tree species didn’t appear until 300 million years later. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2024 After dog tooth violet retreats underground in the heat of summer, choose perennial companion plants that will mask the empty garden spots, such as ferns. Nadia Hassani, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2024 In particular, the researchers studied pollen particles found in the caves and classified whether these particles represented trees, shrubs or species, such as ferns, that often rush in after an ecosystem experiences a disruption. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 10 Jan. 2024 The blurred, overlapped details can be architectural, but several predominantly green prints depict ferns that reach toward the sun. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fern.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English fearn; akin to Old High German farn fern, Sanskrit parṇa wing, leaf

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fern was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near fern

Cite this Entry

“Fern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fern. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fern

noun
: any of an order of vascular plants resembling seed plants in having root, stem, and leaflike fronds but reproducing by spores instead of by flowers and seeds
fernlike adjective
ferny adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on fern

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