hellebore

noun

hel·​le·​bore ˈhe-lə-ˌbȯr 

1

: any of a genus (Helleborus) of poisonous Eurasian herbs of the buttercup family having showy flowers with petaloid sepals

also : the dried rhizome of a hellebore (such as H. niger) formerly used in medicine

2

: a poisonous herb (genus Veratrum) of the lily family

also : the dried rhizome of a hellebore (V. album or V. viride) that is used as an insecticide and contains toxic alkaloids that are cardiac and respiratory depressants

Examples of hellebore in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Perennials with long bloom periods are astilbe, hosta, hellebore, coral bells, bleeding heart, and begonias. — Lauren David, Southern Living, 4 June 2026

The flowering season of spring-blooming hellebores is typically over by April or May, after which the plants die back above ground as temperatures climb in summer. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 May 2026

Deer-resistant alternatives like ferns and hellebores thrive in shade and are less appealing to deer. — Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 20 May 2026

Restoring the balance of the humors through profusely bleeding the patient or inducing vomiting or diarrhea with the poisonous plant hellebore. — Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English elebre, from Anglo-French, from Latin elleborus, helleborus, from Greek helleboros

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

hellebore

noun

hel·​le·​bore ˈhel-ə-ˌbō(ə)r 

-ˌbȯ(ə)r

1

: any of a genus of poisonous herbs related to the buttercups

also : its dried root formerly used in medicine

2

: a poisonous herb related to the lilies

also : its dried root or a product of this containing chemical substances used in medicine and insecticides

Medical Definition

hellebore

noun

hel·​le·​bore ˈhel-ə-ˌbō(ə)r, -ˌbȯ(ə)r 

1

a

: any herb of the genus Helleborus

b

: the dried roots and rhizome of any medicinal herb of the genus Helleborus (as black hellebore H. niger or green hellebore H. viridis) or a powder or extract of this used by the ancient Greeks and Romans in treating mental and other disorders

2

a

: any of several poisonous herbs of the genus Veratrum

b

: the dried rhizome and roots of either of two hellebores of the genus Veratrum (the false hellebore V. viride of America and V. album of Europe) or a powder or extract of this containing alkaloids (as protoveratrine) used as a cardiac and respiratory depressant and also as an insecticide

called also veratrum, white hellebore