sweet fern

noun

: a small North American shrub (Comptonia peregrina) of the wax-myrtle family with aromatic leaves

Word History

First Known Use

1654, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of sweet fern was in 1654

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Browse Nearby Words

sweet fennel

sweet fern

sweetfish

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Sweet fern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweet%20fern. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

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