# fern

/ˈfɝn/ (US) · /fˈɜːn/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fern
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a green plant with long, feathery leaves that does not produce flowers or seeds.

For teachers: a flowerless vascular plant that reproduces via spores and typically possesses feathery or highly divided fronds.

## Examples

- The forest floor was covered in green ferns.
- Because they thrive in damp and shaded areas, ferns are popular choices for indoor hanging baskets.
- The fossil record indicates that ferns were among the dominant terrestrial plant groups during the Carboniferous period, long before the evolution of flowering species.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.