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Nectar is often mentioned in conjunction with ambrosia, the food of the Greek and Roman gods. For centuries, English speakers have used ambrosia to refer to something with an extremely pleasing taste or smell, and nectar to refer to a delicious drink, especially a fruit juice. To the ancient Greeks and Romans, however, the powers of nectar and ambrosia far exceeded those of any earthly fare; consuming nectar and ambrosia gave the gods their immortality. In Greek, the literal meanings of ambrosia and nectar are "immortality" and "overcoming death," respectively. Nektar is believed to be a compound of Greek nek- (probably akin to Latin nec-, meaning "death") and -tar (probably akin to Sanksrit tarati, meaning "he overcomes or crosses over").
Examples of nectar in a Sentence
Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 10 Feb. 2026
This native plant is a favorite nectar source.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Feb. 2026
Kaanapali Coast, of course, is an ode to Hawaii, opening with juicy peach nectar and lemon peel before settling into a creamy heart of coconut shavings, milk, and warm spice.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026
Hummingbirds require a sweet nectar, however, this liquid sugar is also attractive to insects, especially ants.
—Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 7 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Nectar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nectar. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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nectar
noun
