kava

noun

ka·​va ˈkä-və 

1

: an Australasian shrubby pepper (Piper methysticum) from whose crushed root an intoxicating beverage is made

also : the beverage made from kava

2

: the dried rhizome and roots of the kava used especially as a dietary supplement chiefly to relieve stress and anxiety

Examples of kava in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hufanga told The Post the bowl is a kumete — a traditional Polynesian wooden bowl used for preparing and serving food or mixing kava. — Sam Jane, Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2026

Noble kava root is at the heart of all our pairings and is the primary ingredient in feel free® and the newest addition to our product portfolio, Kava Maté. — Tara Molina, CBS News, 1 June 2026

Plant Bar is a community space serving zero-proof cocktails, tea, cacao and pastries with optional kava, CBD or THC. — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2026

Plant Bar is a non-alcoholic community space offering tea, coffee, zero proof cocktails, cacao and pastries, with add-ons available including kava, CBD and THC. — Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Tongan & Marquesan, literally, bitter

First Known Use

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing kava

• kava kava

Medical Definition

kava

noun

ka·​va ˈkäv-ə 

1

: an Australasian shrubby pepper (Piper methysticum) from whose crushed root an intoxicating beverage is made

also : the beverage

2

: a preparation consisting of the ground dried rhizome and roots of the kava plant that is used as a dietary supplement chiefly to relieve stress, anxiety, and sleeplessness and in folk medicine especially as a diuretic and urogenital antiseptic and that has been linked to cases of severe liver injury