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pergola

American  
[pur-guh-luh] / ˈpɜr gə lə /

noun

  1. an arbor formed of horizontal trelliswork supported on columns or posts, over which vines or other plants are trained.

  2. a colonnade having the form of such an arbor.

pergola British  
/ ˈpɜːɡələ /

noun

  1. a horizontal trellis or framework, supported on posts, that carries climbing plants and may form a covered walk

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of pergola

1645–55; < Italian < Latin pergula projecting roof, arbor

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

My house is pretty needy—nagging about weeds, hinting it wants a pergola.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025

The most striking piece Greene made for Pellman was a Japanese-style pergola that he used as a teahouse.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2025

A cafe and pergola will go in at street level along Olive Street across from the Biltmore Hotel.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2024

Miriam, who did not want her surname used, purchased two pieces of garden furniture including a pergola, from Robert Dyas in July, 2023 and by September a mark had appeared.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2024

I had a clear view of the restaurant space, which was shaded by a white wooden pergola threaded with fake greenery.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.