herb

noun

ˈərb 

US also and British usually

ˈhərb 

often attributive

1

botany : a seed-producing annual, biennial, or perennial that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season

2

: a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities

planted parsley, basil, and rosemary in her herb garden

3

slang : marijuana sense 2

herblike

ˈ(h)ərb-ˌlīk 

adjective

herby

ˈ(h)ər-bē 

adjective

Examples of herb in a Sentence

a dish seasoned with chopped fresh herbs

rosemary, sage, and other herbs

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, Indigenous people shared their knowledge of making tea from local plants and herbs with colonists. — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026

Simply planting these herbs in your yard or keeping them in a pot on your patio hasn't been proven to effectively keep mosquitoes away. — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 5 July 2026

Customization options include swapping sour cream for Greek yogurt and adding garnishes like bacon or herbs. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026

Optional activities include medicinal herb hikes, where guests can learn about local medicinal plants, and visits to a Kneipp facility in the midst of the forest. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English herbe, from Anglo-French, from Latin herba

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing herb

• herb doctor
• herb Robert
• willow herb

Rhymes for herb

• blurb
• curb
• erb
• kerb
• serb
• verb
• disturb
• perturb
• reverb
• superb

Kids Definition

herb

noun

ˈərb 

also

ˈhərb 

1

: a seed-producing plant that does not develop long-lived woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season

2

: a plant or plant part used for making medicine and seasonings

Medical Definition

herb

noun

ˈ(h)ərb 

often attributive

1

: a seed plant that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season

2

: a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities