NYT Dictionary

TOPIARY

/ˈtoʊpiˌɛəɹi/
AdjectiveNounTO-pi-ar-yto-pi-ar-y · 4 syllablesGrade 9

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2021, 2022, 2024, 2026

Meaning

Of, or relating to art of topiaries.

Etymology

Origin: Latin

From Latin topiarius (“of or relating to ornamental gardening; an ornamental garden, an ornamental gardener”), from Latin topia (“ornamental gardening, landscape painting”), from Ancient Greek τόπια (tópia, “artistic representation in which natural or artificial features of a place are used as the medium”), plural of Ancient Greek τόπιον (tópion, “field, landscape”), from τόπος (tópos, “place”). The adjective use dates to 1592, the noun use dates to 1908.

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles, including a pangram:

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