basil

noun

ba·​sil ˈba-zəl  ˈbā-  -səl 

1

: any of several aromatic herbs (genus Ocimum) of the mint family

especially : sweet basil

2

: the dried or fresh leaves of a basil used especially as a seasoning

Examples of basil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Basil salt is created by putting a cup of dry, compressed basil leaves into a food processor and blending them into a paste, with a little water added if necessary. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 24 Jan. 2026

Ask for the basket of dill, basil and other herbs, with cubes of the feta-adjacent Bulgarian cheese called sirene, to build more textured, complex bites wrapped around hunks of taftoon. —Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026

Season with salt and pepper to taste, drizzle with olive oil to taste and sprinkle with basil. —Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026

Or just drop by for a Basil-ica cocktail (gin, lemon juice, elderflower liqueur, orange bitters, and fresh basil) in the Riva bar, arguably the city’s most glamorous spot for aperitivi and nightcaps. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English basyl, basyle, shortening (perhaps by confusion with Middle French basile "basilisk") of Middle French basilic or its source, Medieval Latin basilicon, borrowed from Greek basilikón (for presumed basilikòn phytón "royal plant"), noun derivative from neuter of basilikós "royal" — more at basilica

Note: The word basilikón as a name for a plant or herb is marginally attested in ancient and early post-classical Greek, the usual word for what is presumed to be Ocimum basilicum in Greek being ṓkimon. The identity of a lákhanon basilikón ("royal herb") in the pseudo-Aristotelian De plantis (2nd century b.c.) is uncertain. The lexicon of Hesychius (5th-6th centuries a.d., incorporating much ancient material) glosses ṓkimon as "fragrant herb, called basilikón" ("botánē euṓdēs, tò legómenon basilikón").

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing basil

• bush basil
• sweet basil

Rhymes for basil

• dazzle

Kids Definition

basil

noun

bas·​il

ˈbaz-əl, 

ˈbāz-, 

ˈbas-, 

ˈbās-

: any of several plants of the mint family

especially : sweet basil

Biographical Definition

Basil

biographical name

Bas·​il ˈbā-zəl  ˈba- 

-səl

variants or Basilius

bə-ˈsi-lē-əs 

-ˈzi-

Saint circa 329–379 the Great church father; bishop of Caesarea