peppermint

noun

pep·​per·​mint ˈpe-pər-ˌmint 

-mənt

in rapid speech ˈpep-mənt

or -ᵊm-ənt

1

a

: a pungent and aromatic mint (Mentha piperita) with dark green lanceolate leaves and whorls of small pink flowers in spikes

b

: any of several mints (such as M. arvensis) that are related to the peppermint

2

: candy flavored with peppermint

pepperminty

ˈpe-pər-ˌmin-tē 

adjective

Illustration of peppermint

• peppermint 1a

Examples of peppermint in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Herbs like garlic, thyme, and peppermint help keep slugs away when grown nearby or used in sprays. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 3 July 2026

Sprinkle cinnamon or cayenne around your pantry, set out garlic cloves, or soak cotton balls in strong essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, or lavender and place them around your home. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 July 2026

Mint Tea Mint tea is made by brewing spearmint or peppermint leaves in hot water. — Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 1 July 2026

Everyone’s heartburn triggers are different, but common culprits include coffee, alcohol, chocolate, peppermint, citrus, garlic, carbonated drinks, and spicy and fatty foods, Toriz says. — Sarah Klein, Time, 30 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for peppermint

• fingerprint
• mezzotint
• overprint
• blueprint
• footprint
• imprint
• misprint
• newsprint
• nonprint
• preprint
• reprint
• clint

Kids Definition

peppermint

noun

pep·​per·​mint ˈpep-ər-ˌmint 

-mənt

1

: a mint with stalks of small usually pink flowers that is the source of an oil which is sharp in flavor and is used especially to flavor candies

2

: candy flavored with peppermint

Medical Definition

peppermint

noun

pep·​per·​mint -ˌmint, -mənt 

: a mint of the genus Mentha (M. piperita) with dark green leaves and spikes of small pink flowers from which an aromatic oil is obtained

pepperminty

ˈpep-ər-ˌmint-ē 

adjective