herbal

1 of 2

noun

herb·​al ˈ(h)ər-bəl How to pronounce herbal (audio)
1
: a book about plants especially with reference to their medicinal properties
2
archaic : herbarium sense 1
3
: herbal medicine sense 2
Some herbals may indeed be gentle remedies. But using them with prescription drugs can be a dangerous mix.Josh Fischman

herbal

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, utilizing, or made of herbs

Examples of herbal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
There is a wide range in taste from one extra-virgin olive oil to another, from herbal and fruity to bitter and peppery, depending on the olives harvested. Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 12 July 2023 To offset the heat, there are flaky roti and thick wedges of buttered white toast, plus cold bottles of Indian beer and mango lassis, which become a dessert called Mastani with the addition of vanilla ice cream, nuts, and bright-green, herbal-tasting khus syrup, made from vetiver grass. Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2023 The cliche is that cider is sickly sweet and with a high alcohol level — but Scion’s selection includes draft ciders that range from 4 to 12% ABV, and the flavor profiles range from extremely dry and tannic to tart to herbal to sweet. Stefene Russell, The Salt Lake Tribune, 2 Jan. 2023 There are so many possibilities for their daily cup of tea with this sampler of nine varieties, including black, green, white, and herbal. Samantha Lawyer, Woman's Day, 3 Jan. 2023 Its user-friendly design includes pre-programmed temperature settings for different types of tea, including oolong, green, black/herbal, and white, as well as a general boil setting. Adria Greenhauff, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2022 Luckily for tea lovers, these tea advent calendars are decked out with black, green, herbal and tons of other teas and blends from your favorite brands such as Pukka, DAVIDsTea and more. Katarina Avendaño, Good Housekeeping, 27 Sep. 2022 Well structured, round with dense yellow fruit, a little waxy and herbal. Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 3 June 2022 From sweet to savory to spicy to herbal, this spread hits an impressive number of notes. Gabriela Aoun, Outside Online, 10 Nov. 2020
Adjective
Zero-proof options include a Phony Negroni ($11), herbal tea and a Chef’s Spirit ($6) of iced coffee and Mexican Coke. Details: Open for lunch and dinner Wednesday-Sunday at 1746 Solano Ave., Berkeley; elsiesonsolano.com. John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024 Mystic Journey Bookstore is the spot to go for all crystals and ritual objects, and Anima Mundi is a modern-day herbal apothecary with a tonic bar and medicinal herbal garden. Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 29 Jan. 2024 Each product has a clean, herbal scent profile and is packaged in recyclable or compostable material. Hannah Chubb, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 The treatment offerings are just as comprehensive, ranging from modern Hydrafacials to the Thai Muscle Melt, an 80-minute full-body massage that draws inspiration from ancient Thai healing practices used on weary warriors returning from battle with warmed herbal poultices and pressure points. Katie Chang, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 Bay leaves add tremendous flavor, contributing herbal nuances similar to thyme and oregano. Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024 All the red-berry fruits are playing here—plus some cherry and an herbal component and some spice, too. Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 The duo, who had worked together at Google nearly two decades ago, spent the next several hours sipping herbal tea and chatting. Kylie Robison, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2024 The local herbal tea lounge is also named after owner Sherry Waters’s beloved grandmother, Pauline. Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'herbal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1612, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of herbal was in 1526

Dictionary Entries Near herbal

Cite this Entry

“Herbal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herbal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

herbal

adjective
herb·​al
ˈ(h)ər-bəl
: of, relating to, or made of herbs

Medical Definition

herbal

1 of 2 noun
herb·​al ˈ(h)ər-bəl How to pronounce herbal (audio)
1
: a book about plants especially with reference to their medical properties
2

herbal

2 of 2 adjective
: of, relating to, or made of herbs

More from Merriam-Webster on herbal

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