Merriam - Webster Word of the day *foliage*

foliage

noun
fo·​liage ˈfō-lē-ij
also  -lyij;
nonstandard  ˈfō-lij,
nonstandard
ˈfȯi-lij
Synonyms of foliage
1
: a representation of leaves, flowers, and branches for architectural ornamentation
The doorframe was decorated with beautifully carved foliage.
2
: the aggregate of leaves of one or more plants
trees with colorful autumn foliage
3
: a cluster of leaves, flowers, and branches
A wreath of foliage adorned her front door.
foliaged
ˈfō-lē-ijd
also  -lyijd;
nonstandard  ˈfō-lijd
nonstandard  ˈfȯi-
adjective
How do you pronounce foliage?: Usage Guide

The disyllabic pronunciation \ˈfō-lij\ is very common. Some commentators insist that foliage requires a trisyllabic pronunciation because of its spelling, but words of a similar pattern such as carriage and marriage do not fall under their prescription. The pronunciation \ˈfȯi-lij\ is disapproved because it suggests the transposition of the l and i in the spelling. It is not as common as \ˈfō-lij\ and may be associated with the nonstandard spelling foilage.


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How Do You Pronounce foliage?

Whether you’re a casual leaf peeper or a card-carrying botanist, a staunch New Englander or Caribbean beach bum, there’s plenty to love about foliage—though the pronunciation of foliage has long been a point of contention among English speakers. Most commonly accepted is the trisyllabic \FOH-lee-ij\. However, there’s no denying that the pronunciations \FOH-lij\ and even \FOY-lij\ have also staked their claim. The first of these disputed pronunciations is consistent with the pronunciation of the -iage ending in marriage and carriage. The second is often more fiercely denounced, in part because of its association with the nonstandard spelling foilage. But there’s redemption for this estranged pronunciation: foliage traces back to Middle French foille ("leaf"), which is also the source of the English word foil (as in "aluminum foil"). When adopted by Middle English speakers, foil originally meant "leaf." Love it or leaf it, there’s just no taking the "foil" out of foliage.
Synonyms

   flora
   green
   greenery
   herbage
   leafage
   vegetation
   verdure

Examples of foliage in a Sentence
a tree with pretty foliage the thick green foliage of the jungle
Recent Examples on the Web Fall veggies, fruits, flowers, and foliage are combined to create a twist on a cornucopia. —
Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2023 Cleaning up foliage from your patios, driveways, and sidewalks is a breeze with the S 4 Twin sweeper. — Wendy Vazquez, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2023 Riding on a steam train that was built in 1950 is exciting enough, but this fall the train will be transporting passengers through the Shenandoah Valley during its peak fall foliage season — early October through early November. —
Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'foliage.' 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 French fuellage, from foille leaf — more at foil entry 2
First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of foliage was in 1598