forestry

noun

for·​est·​ry ˈfȯr-ə-strē 

ˈfär-

1

: forestland

2

a

: the science of developing, caring for, or cultivating forests

b

: the management of growing timber

Did you know?

This is the management of forested land, along with associated waters and wasteland, primarily for harvesting timber, but also for conservation and recreation purposes. The harvesting and replanting of timber are the primary activities of forestry, and the main objective is to maintain a continuous supply of timber through carefully planned harvest and replacement. The forest manager is also responsible for the application of other land controls, including the protection of wildlife and the protection of forests from weeds, insects, fungal diseases, erosion, and fire. The planned management of forests originated in early medieval Europe, where laws regulated the felling of timber and the use of forests for hunting. In 1891 the US government authorized its first reserves of forested land.

Examples of forestry in a Sentence

She studied forestry in college.

Recent Examples on the Web

Brian Oswald, a 69-year-old retired forestry professor from Nacogdoches, Texas, came straight to Oktoberfest after landing on an overnight flight from the United States. — Erik Kirschbaum, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Two days earlier, a security guard was killed in a bear attack at a truck parking lot in a forestry area. — Arina Porkhovnik, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2026

What’s now a polished lodge—two- and three-story wings along the shoreline, fishing boats named Eel Grass and Sea Wolf docked out front—was a defunct forestry homestead when the Nation bought it. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026

The Unabomber’s last package killed California forestry official Gilbert Murray (no relation to the psychologist) in April 1995. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for forestry

• agroforestry

Kids Definition

forestry

noun

for·​est·​ry ˈfȯr-ə-strē 

ˈfär-

: the science and practice of caring for forests