bergamot

noun

ber·​ga·​mot ˈbər-gə-ˌmät How to pronounce bergamot (audio)
plural bergamots
1
a
: a round to pear-shaped citrus fruit of a Mediterranean tree (Citrus bergamia synonym C. aurantium bergamia) that has a yellow to green rind which yields a bitter, fragrant essential oil and that is typically considered to be a hybrid of a sour orange and a lemon
b(1)
: a tree that bears bergamots
(2)
: the essential oil derived from a bergamot
2
: any of several mints (genus Monarda) see also wild bergamot

Examples of bergamot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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A touch of cardamom adds another dash of spice, while bergamot infuses the fragrance with a twist of citrus. Jenny Berg, Allure, 9 Dec. 2025 The blooms have a strong lemon verbena, bergamot and honeysuckle fragrance. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2025 Christmas Road Trip 3-Wick Candle New this year, the Christmas Road Trip scent includes fragrance notes of warm amber mixed with bergamot. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Dec. 2025 The London Bar infuses Earl Grey into its caramel, with a biscuit crunch woven with notes of bergamot, vanilla, and sea salt. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bergamot

Word History

Etymology

French bergamote, from Italian bergamotta, modification of Turkish bey armudu, literally, the bey's pear

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bergamot was in 1600

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Cite this Entry

“Bergamot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bergamot. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.

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