buckthorn

noun

buck·​thorn ˈbək-ˌthȯrn 

1

: any of a genus (Rhamnus of the family Rhamnaceae, the buckthorn family) of often thorny trees or shrubs some of which yield purgatives or pigments

2

: a shrub or small tree (Sideroxylon lycioides) of the sapodilla family of the southern U.S.

Examples of buckthorn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Key Ingredients: Sea buckthorn oil, borage seed oil, coconut oil Type: Balm Size: 1.4 oz. —Deanna Pai, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025

The formula is packed with barrier-loving ceramides, moisture-replenishing phospholipids, and nourishing coconut and sea buckthorn oils, all melting into skin with a velvety, never-greasy finish. —Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 24 Nov. 2025

It’s formulated with a potent blend of skin-loving natural ingredients, like sea buckthorn and bee balm. —Essence, 30 Sep. 2025

That means overwintering bugs lose their shelter, and buckthorn gets even more space to grow. —Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing buckthorn

• cascara buckthorn

Rhymes for buckthorn

• adorn
• airborne
• blackthorn
• broomcorn
• buckhorn
• careworn
• firstborn
• foodborne
• forborne
• forewarn
• forlorn
• forsworn

Medical Definition

buckthorn

noun

buck·​thorn ˈbək-ˌthȯ(ə)rn 

: a shrub or tree of the genus Rhamnus sometimes having thorny branches and often containing purgative principles in bark or sap and producing fruits sometimes used as a source of yellow and green dyes or pigments compare alder buckthorn, cascara buckthorn